TikTok Headquarters Cleared After Online Threats Lead to Arrest

Police in Culver City, California, say they have arrested a man accused of making a series of online threats that led TikTok to evacuate its U.S. headquarters near Los Angeles on Friday.

Good to Know

• The suspect, 33-year-old Joseph Mayuyo from Hawthorne, allegedly sent multiple threats across social media.
• TikTok’s Culver City office was evacuated as a precaution after a direct threat was received.
• The incident occurred as TikTok’s U.S. division transitions to a new ownership structure approved by President Donald Trump.

According to the Culver City Police Department (CCPD), TikTok employees reported receiving several threatening messages online from Mayuyo. After one of the messages appeared to specifically target the company’s headquarters, TikTok’s security team quickly moved to evacuate the building to ensure employee safety.

Police began investigating Mayuyo’s residence shortly after the evacuation. While officers were conducting their inquiry, the suspect allegedly continued posting threats, including one stating that he “would not be taken alive.” Detectives obtained both search and arrest warrants and negotiated with him for roughly 90 minutes before he ultimately surrendered without incident.

Investigation and Arrest

Authorities confirmed that Mayuyo was taken into custody on Friday afternoon and is now facing charges related to the online threats. Investigators are reviewing his digital activity across multiple platforms as part of the ongoing case.

A Business Insider report cited one TikTok employee describing the situation as “really scary,” while another noted that the threats seemed directed at the e-commerce department, raising concerns about potential targeting.

Mayuyo’s X (formerly Twitter) account has since been suspended for violating the platform’s hateful content policy. Investigators also identified a Medium account under his name that published a post in July calling TikTok Shop USA a “scam.”

TikTok’s Response and Ongoing Corporate Transition

In its public statement, the Culver City Police Department praised TikTok’s internal security team “for their quick action, collaboration, and professionalism throughout this case.” The company has not reported any physical injuries or further threats since the arrest.

The incident occurred during a turbulent period for TikTok, as its U.S. operations are being spun off from Chinese parent company ByteDance into a new joint venture with an independent board of directors. The transition follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump, who has publicly discussed the deal for several months.

Authorities say additional details about the investigation and charges will be shared once formal filings are complete.