YouTube Acid Attack Prank

Overview

YouTube Acid Attack refers to a controversy regarding a YouTube video featuring YouTuber ItsAyra throwing water in unsuspecting bystanders' faces. The video has been perceived as taking advatage of the fear surrounding recent acid attacks in England. The vlogger in question, Arya Mosallah, has since taken the video down in light of the backlash.

Background

On June 6th, 2017, YouTuber^[3] ItzArya published a video entitled "THROWING WATER ON PEOPLES FACES." In the video, vlogger Arya Mosallah throws water in the face of unsuspecting strangers. Additionally, Mosallah promises that if video gets 20,000 likes, he'll release a second part. The video (since deleted) received more than 8.2 million views and 198,000 likes in eight months.

On January 7th, 2018, YouTube vlogger ItzArya tweeted^[1] a link to the sequel, "THROWING WATER ON PEOPLES FACES PT.2." The video has since been deleted, however, the tweet (shown below) received more than one retweet and nine likes. Yahoo News^[2] reported that before being removed the video had received more than 1.6 million views.

The video has since been deleted by YouTube. However, YouTuber The World as M & M has uploaded a mirror of the video (shown below).^[16]

Development

On January 28th, the website LADBible reported on the prank video, commenting on some of the responses that the video was getting on YouTube. This is due to the fact in 2017 there were more than 400 confirmed acid attacks in London.^[8] Those comments have since been deleted, however, the site published a screenshot of block of them in which users complain about how nice the people in the video appeared. The site also quotes an unnamed user who said, "With the increasing number of acid attacks on the streets of London, this video is anything but funny." Within 24 hours, the article has been shared more than 11,000 times.

Online Reaction

On Twitter, people reacted negatively to the news of the prank video. Twitter user @BashSuperior tweeted, "Given the rise in acid attacks of late, I find this to be extremely disturbing. The 'YouTuber' is aware of the current climate and has chosen to exploit that for some kicks. @YouTube should take action against him and definitely shouldn't allow him to profit off causing distress." The post (shown below, left) received more than 830 retweets and 2,600 likes in 24 hours.

Twitter^[6] user Aimee_TW tweeted, "That YouTube prankster Arya has taken it too far with the 'acid attack' style prank." The tweet (shown below, center) received more than 60 retweets and 530 likes in 24 hours. Additionally, Twitter^[7] user @jamieandrews777 tweeted, "Think this guy needs to be sat down and have a chat with an acid attack victim. See how funny this type of 'prank' is then." The tweet (shown below, right) received more than 190 retweets and 1,000 likes in 24 hours.

That day, Twitter^[15] published a Moments page on the reaction to the video.

Mosallah's Response

On January 28th, Mosallah posted a response on his Instagram. ^[9] In a series of three posts, he expressed a series of opinions on the response to the video. The first post (shown below, left), Mosallah shared some of the headlines featuring the story and the caption "Yes lads we made it on the news !🤣💪🏼surprised they’re crying over 1 video, beg someone send them all of my videos 🤣😂" The post received more than 6,000 likes in 24 hours.

In a followup post,^[10] he wrote, "So my video been removed and I got a strike on my channel for throwing water on peoples faces when there are videos of bombing and stabbings and pornography on YouTube. Fair enough I understand why I shouldn't have done it but is it really fair for youtube to listen to a bunch of boring ass old people who want to make someone coming up look bad and make me look like a criminal? At the end of the day I do this to entertain people and it's my job, This is the time I need all my followers support, this is not fair." The post (shown below, right) received more than 2,800 likes.

Later that day, ItzArya^[11] posted a video entitled "My Response." In the video, ItzArya defended himself by saying that it was a "prank." However, he said that he accepts some of the criticism he's received and that his other videos would "anal" his detractors.

Media Coverage

Several media outlets covered the controversy including The Independent,^[12] The Daily Dot,^[13] NME^[14] and more.

Search Interest

External References