A video showcasing philanthropic act of controversial Russian-American content creator Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, known as 'VitalyzdTv', has surfaced which was posted on March 31 this year before his arrest in April.
In the video, the 34-year-old Zdorovetskiy is seen donating money, TVs, PS5 consoles, school supplies, iPhones and shoes to locals in the Philippines while children cheer as he embraces people amidst Christian music in the background.
The video ends with Zdorovetskiy praying under a crucifix with children and their parents. 'Dear Jesus, thank you for everything you have given me in life, an opportunity to give blessings to people in need,' he prayed. 'Please protect them with all your heart, I know you're watching this right now,' he adds. I know you're listening to us right now.'
VitalyzdTv rose to fame in 2012 with a controversial prank targeting unsuspecting passersby in Miami, and has since amassed 10.2 million subscribers. His content took a turn for the worse when he live-streamed himself harassing locals at Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in the Philippines.
Video Showcases Philanthropy
Despite the video's uplifting tone, viewers remain unconvinced of the creator's integrity.
For many, Zdorovetskiy's 'acts of kindness' do not erase or compensate for the harm he has caused.
'Doing this doesn't erase the fact you were harassing other locals for attention,' one user commented under his video. 'God is good!' another echoed mockingly. 'You're in jail.' A third asks: 'So does this 2 min reel justify your hours-long stream of harassment towards Filipinos on your stream?'
Other statements include 'get out of my country,' with several users calling for Zdorovetskiy's deportation, and incarceration.
His Belligerent Behaviour on Live Stream
Zdorovetskiy was detained by the Filipino authorities after widespread public outcry over his inappropriate behaviour during a series of livestreams, in which he allegedly harassed random locals.
Viewers accused him of behaving aggressively, reportedly offering money to women in exchange for reactions and making unsavoury threats when they refused. In one instance, he was caught on camera yelling, 'Okay, 'cause you got a COVID mask you liberal f**k,' to a woman.
Filipino authorities were quick to act following reports, and Zdorovetskiy was charged on 2 April.
Rude Vlogger Faces Possible Social Media Ban
Zdorovetskiy's actions have also triggered an online petition demanding his permanent removal from all major social platforms— including YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram— for what many are calling cyberbullying.
The petition, spearheaded by activist Nikola Navrátil, accuses the YouTuber of orchestrating targeted harassment against a local business by encouraging followers to flood it with fake reviews.
'Among the millions who witnessed the disgraceful public behaviour of YouTuber Vitaly Zdorovetskiy in the Philippines, one truth became undeniably clear: this man has no regard for human decency, safety, or the dignity of others,' Navrátil's statement reads. 'This was not a prank. 'This was a deliberate, premeditated act of cyber harassment. [...] This is not content creation. This is not free speech. This is abuse. This is a crime.'
The petition, titled 'Ban Vitaly Zdorovetskiy from ALL Social Media for Cyberbullying in the Philippines' has over 3,500 so far with a target of 5,000.
For someone who built a career on pushing boundaries, it seems Vitaly may have finally gone too far—and this time, the consequences are anything but virtual.
Zdorovetskiy's— admittedly deserved— ordeal is far from over. The Mirror claims that Zdorovetskiy could be detained for two or three years awaiting sentencing, while fellow YouTuber Atozy reports the prankster could be sentenced to up to 24 years in jail.
