Social media users were outraged by a video showcasing a YouTuber approaching a man on the street, offering him food, and then eating it in front of him.
A Random Act of Kindness?
Rather than following the usual "random acts of kindness" trend on social media where creators take footage of themselves buying or gifting items to complete strangers, this man took a different approach by consuming the food in front of the supposedly homeless man he had offered it to.
Several Twitter users reposted the now-viral video, which garnered over 10 million views since its posting, with many views expressing disgust and anger towards the footage.
Deleted Video
The video, which has since been removed, was uploaded by Trevon Sellers, a YouTuber who goes by the name "whatsuptre" and has 10,500 subscribers.
Sellers' videos primarily consist of public pranks, such as knocking over boxes at a Girl-Scout-cookie stand and then offering to purchase ten boxes, or strolling through stores while sporting a Confederate flag.
Homelessness in Los Angelos
The video features him standing outside a Wendy's restaurant, talking about the issue of homelessness in LA, California. He claims that the city has the third-biggest homeless population in the United States.
Making a Difference?
After discussing the issue of homelessness in America, the YouTuber expressed a desire to be a part of the solution.
"Today it's my job to make sure there is one less hungry person on the streets," he says.
Offering Food To A Homeless Man
The video then transitions to a man sitting on the pavement as Sellers approaches him and offers to buy him a meal consisting of a burger, fries, and a beverage.
Returning with Food
Later on, the YouTuber comes back to the man carrying a drink and a bag filled with food, telling him "I want you to enjoy this" while taking the meal out of the bag.
Eating in Front of Him
It was at this moment that Sellers did something unexpected, which led to intense outrage on the internet: he unwrapped the burger, took a bite out of it, and started eating the fries in front of the homeless man.
Walking Away
With the drink in his hand, he said, "Alright, take care have a nice day," before walking away from the man.
Online Outrage
The provocative clip was widely shared on Twitter as a “prank,” sparking outrage from viewers who found the YouTuber's actions to be cruel and offensive towards the homeless.
“Pure Evil”
"Man, the bolt of rage I just felt run through my body man… call this what it is, pure evil," one viewer commented.
“Disgusting”
"Filming buying someone food is already distasteful,” stated another user, “but to eat it in front of his face and UPLOAD IT is disgusting. He deserves no grace,"
A Staged Video?
It’s worth pointing out that Sellers did not specifically describe the man in the video as homeless, leading some Twitter users to speculate that the video could have been staged and the man on the sidewalk may have been paid to act.
Still, Morally Wrong
Although it is unclear whether the video was staged to generate a reaction and go viral or not, many people contended that the underlying message of the clip was morally unacceptable.
The footage of a man who might be homeless and then eating the food that was meant for them in front of them shouldn’t be even on the internet, as argued by viewers.
Going Too Far For Views
"This screams a 'bit' because I lack trust in anything I see online,” one user expressed.
“However, if it's true then this becomes a conversation of how far will people go to garner attention. This dude had to know it would receive this kind of reaction."
“Interesting Behavior”
“Staged or not that was pretty evil actions on his part,” wrote another viewer. “I also still don’t understand the trend of doing kind things for others and needing to not only record it but proceed to post it to social media… it’s very interesting behavior.”
“This Isn’t Funny”
“If this [is] staged, this isn’t funny. You could argue it shines a light on the issue. That people have done things of this nature or worse. It’s disgusting & that’s why it isn’t funny,” one user expressed.
“If it’s real. -ok- then the person (eating) being really messed up & the passive comment ‘I was homeless once too’ adds salt to the wounds this person (unhoused) is already experiencing. Regardless if the person is doing drugs or not. They are entitled to respect and human dignity.”
YouTuber Responds to Criticism
According to a report by Hollywood Unlocked on April 24, Trevon Sellers stated on Instagram that the viral clip was scripted and taken out of context, with a full version showing the YouTuber returning to the man to give him a meal.
No Comment
As Trevon Sellers' Instagram account seems to have been deactivated, Insider could not verify the statement. Additionally, he did not respond to Insider's request for comment.
Homelessness Crisis Is Only Getting Worse
The problem of homelessness in America continues to worsen, particularly with regard to chronic homelessness, which has increased by 65% since its 2016 low. The Annual Homelessness Assessment Report estimates that on a single night in January 2022, over half a million people were experiencing homelessness in the U.S.
Chronic homelessness affected roughly 30% of America's homeless population last year, while 40% were unsheltered, meaning they slept in cars, on the streets, or in tents rather than in shelters.
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Source: Twitter
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