Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, the infamous streamer known for his outrageous pranks, has landed in hot water once again. Controversial for stunts like climbing the Hollywood sign and assaulting a female jogger in Miami, the Russian-American Twitch streamer’s latest antics in the Philippines went too far.
After filming himself harassing a security guard and pranking locals, he was arrested. His reckless actions have now led to serious legal consequences. His arrest now raised concern about a troubling trend of dangerous pranks, one that may have been sparked by fellow streamer IShowSpeed.
The reason Vitaly Zdorovetskiy is arrested in the Philippines
Vitaly Zdorovetskiy was apprehended by the local authorities last week after filming himself pranking Filipinos, including mocking security guards and engaging in inappropriate physical interactions. The video where Vitaly was seen “disturbing the peace” in a Philipino mall in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, went viral, drawing massive attention before leading to his arrest.
He will not be deported and faces multiple charges. According to the Philippines Star report, at a press conference on April 7, the Department of the Interior and Local Government Security, Jonvic Remulla, labeled Zdorovetskiy as an “undesirable alien” and announced that charges would be filed against him. The cases for which he is charged include attempting to kiss and grab a security guard, trying to seize his firearm, taking videos without consent, mocking security guards, and vlogging in Bonifacio Global City without a permit.
This is YouTube streamer Vitaly Zdorovetskiy who harrassed Filipinos during a livestream in BGC. Please @immigPH, @CIDG_PNP hunt this foreigner down and charge him with every relevant crime. Don’t let him do this to Filipinos in their own country. pic.twitter.com/ORVyJQmrqA
— Gerry Cacanindin (@GerryCacanindin) April 1, 2025
In addition to the harassment of security guards, he was accused of inappropriate behavior towards an elderly woman and a windsurfing instructor in Boracay. His cameraperson, who allegedly enabled these actions, may also face legal consequences.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado also stated, “Harassment and disruptive behavior have no place in our society,” emphasizing that there will be consequences for disrespecting the law of this country. Despite the gravity of the situation, the Twitch streamer continued to act inappropriately during the press conference.
Vitaly Zdorovetskiy is arrested, but the growing trend of IRL streams is concerning
This is not Zdorovetskiy’s first encounter with the law. He has faced arrests in the past for similar stunts, including climbing the Hollywood sign in 2016 and scaling the Pyramids of Giza in 2020. His actions have sparked debates over the ethics of prank-based content, especially when such stunts go too far.
The growing trend of reckless IRL (in real life) streaming is a concern. Zdorovetskiy’s arrest is very similar to IShowSpeed, another controversial streamer, who faced backlash for causing public chaos. The streamer, currently in China, previously had to pay damages caused by fans during a stream in Norway. His fanbase always creates chaos during his visit, leading to safety concerns for both the creator and the public. The incidents involving these streamers highlight the risks that come with unchecked pranking and real-time interactions with fans.
Currently, Zdorovetskiy remains at the Bureau of Immigration detention facility in Muntinlupa while facing charges. His legal battle is just beginning, but the fallout from his actions raises new questions about the limits of online content creation and the consequences of pushing too far for views.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
