On March 31, 2025, TikTok user Kierra King (@kierraking616) posted a video expressing her outrage over a serious incident that occurred at the Perlman Clinic Modern Healthcare in San Diego. The clinic mistakenly labeled her test kit with the name “King Kong,” igniting a broader discussion on racism and insensitivity within healthcare.
In her viral TikTok video, Kierra confronted clinic staff about the unfortunate label, asking, “Can you tell me what’s wrong with this sample?” while revealing the “King Kong” name tag. A staff member can be heard apologizing off-camera, indicating initial recognition of the seriousness of the blunder.
“This is beyond unacceptable. My story is just one instance of blatant racism. Things like this are happening every single day.”
Building on the gravity of the situation, she poignantly asked the staff:
“Can you understand as a Black woman why I would have a problem with that?”
Kierra explained that her actual last name is “King,”highlighting the absurdity of how her first name “Kierra” could be confused with “Kong.” This led to heightened tensions once the medical assistant who created the label was located. The assistant claimed the mistake was accidental, attributing it to typing speed.
The incident quickly escalated on social media, where many users expressed their disbelief and frustration. Some argued that such an error couldn’t be unintentional:
“Imagine going for a checkup and leaving with emotional damage. It’s not even remotely funny,” wrote a user.
“There’s no autocorrect when entering a patient’s name, her name is Kierra and most of the letters are on the left side of the keyboard, so that was definitely done intentionally,” another commentator noted.
Perlman Clinic Modern Healthcare has publicly apologized, recognizing the backlash and the need to address the situation effectively.
The Kierra King ‘King Kong’ Controversy Explained
Kierra expressed in her TikTok caption that the incident was “incomprehensibly bad,” emphasizing the societal implications of such discrimination and urging people to “do better.” She committed to using her platform to raise awareness about the ongoing struggles against racism both in the United States and globally.
Interestingly, her name was correctly documented in the clinic’s electronic records. Initially, staff could not identify who had created the incorrect label. After further inquiry, Kierra expressed her disbelief, labeling the error as “insane” and “unacceptable.”
“I see I put the name incorrect on there. It wasn’t my intention to do that,” the medical assistant later claimed.
The assistant insisted that she had shown Kierra the label during the testing process, a denial Kierra contested. The assistant then explained, “I type really fast. I don’t double-check when I’m typing fast,” adding a layer of frustration to the encounter.
As the video concluded, Kierra confronted the medical assistant regarding the inaccuracies of her claims and insisted on reporting her, while expressing concern over not disclosing the identities of the staff involved.
In response to the incident and the considerable online reaction, Perlman Clinic posted a statement on TikTok, acknowledging the matter and stating their commitment to accountability and creating meaningful change. They expressed regret for the harm caused and reiterated their dedication to providing reliable and equitable medical services.
For further insights and details, you can refer to the original coverage here.