YouTuber’s Harrowing Kidnapping Prank Goes Viral

Footage of YouTuber and streamer Darren “IShowSpeed” Watkins Jr.’s prank kidnapping on the streets of Brazil has gone viral on social media.

Watkins, 18, has been sharing footage of his visit to the South American country, which has included time spent with soccer legend Ronaldo. One viral video shared on Wednesday showed the teenager viewing Ronaldo’s Ballon d’Or trophy.

However, another clip showing a distressed Watkins in a far less thrilling situation—where he was briefly led to believe he was about to be robbed and kidnapped—has also garnered attention on social media.

In the clip, Ohio native Watkins was shown walking with a group of men in a favela, one of the shantytowns located within or on the outskirts of Brazil’s large cities, when a gang wearing balaclavas was seen approaching them.

Wielding planks of wood, the men in the gang were quickly held back by those in Watkins’ group, as they appeared to be pleading for there to be no trouble. Looking terrified, a cornered Watkins was dragged by his soccer jersey through the street.

Keeping his hands raised in the air, Watkins, who has more than 22 million subscribers on YouTube, slumped to the ground and looked on in terror as chaos ensued around him between the purported battling factions.

A camera person, seemingly accompanying the YouTuber, continues to film amid the chaos.


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