Hamilton County woman's 'shark's house' video goes viral with more than 9 million views

Veronica-Pooh Nash Poleate
Veronica-Pooh Nash Poleate

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View Veronica-Pooh Poleate's Summer Safety Tips here:

A Hamilton County school guidance counselor calls her Internet rise to fame "completely bananas."

Veronica-Pooh Nash Poleate's "Summer Safety Tips!" video, which includes a warning to stay out of the ocean because "it's the shark's house," has received more than 9 million views on Facebook.

"The shark has the right to eat you up when you come to his house," she says in the two-minute video. "When chickens come to my house, guess what? They get ate. When pigs come in my house, they on the plate."

The video, posted June 28 in response to a rash of shark bites in the ocean off North Carolina, is among dozens Poleate has posted to Facebook since she started recording public service announcements June 22. None of the recordings are scripted.

"That's my crazy cousin," said D'Toria Elder. "This is just her on an everyday basis."

Elder was stunned by the thousands of people following Poleate. Their group started around June with about 20 people, she said. Commenters find her both wise and hilarious.

"It takes someone who is truly both negative and miserable to post something negative about this video," posted viewer Tammy Carter, who lives in North Carolina.

"You make [me] smile! We love you from a beach in Kauai!" posted Robbie Drueck.

For 10 years Poleate, known to friends and family as "Pooh," was a single parent to her 10-year-old son. She married this year and works as a school counselor at Washington Alternative School. She's worked in Hamilton County Schools for more than a dozen years.

Poleate also started what she calls her "Meat Ministry" on her Facebook page that has nearly 7,000 members. She says the name is a reference to how much weight, or "meat," people carry around every day.

The meat ministry encourages love and unity regardless of size, color or race.

photo This screenshot shows Veronica-Pooh Nash

"People are being healed, blessed and uplifted, just by me turning on the camera," she said.

Poleate said she started the Meat Ministry after seeing the divisions resulting from differing opinions on gay marriage and the Confederate flag.

"For this is the day the Lord has made," she said. "I will rejoice and eat meat in it."

Elder said she appreciates her cousin's ministry and her ability to make people laugh. She describes Poleate's Facebook page as a "drama-free zone."

"Get somebody laughing and they can live in the moment without being so uptight," she said. "Laughter is common ground and it's good for the soul."

Poleate wants to get on award-winning playwright and producer Tyler Perry's payroll.

"I need Tyler Perry to call me so Pooh and Madea can be partners in crime," she said.

Her sorority sister is trying to get her on "Good Morning, America," "The Steve Harvey Morning Show" and "The Ellen DeGeneres Show."

Some viewers told her they start their day looking online for her videos.

"Everyone is positive," said Poleate. "People say this is just a breath of fresh air."

The only negative comments came after she posted a video she made while driving.

The comments warned her of the dangers of texting and driving or recording while driving. Poleate said she won't record while driving again.

She said she was moved to record "Summer Safety Tips!" after hearing about several shark attacks on the news. She made the video on her way to church. Poleate said she was very careful while driving and she rarely drives with two hands on the wheel even when both are available.

"I was a single parent for 10 years," she said. "I know how to do all things with one hand."

Since her first video about three weeks ago, she's gained some 5,000 friends on Facebook - so many she can no longer accept friend requests. But people can still follow her on Facebook. People write her from as far away as Bangkok, Thailand; Istanbul, Turkey, and Australia.

"I said Lord, I done made it to the land down under," said Nash. "It's gone all over the world."

Contact staff writer Yolanda Putman at yputman@timesfree press.com or 757-6431.

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