By Sagar V. Mankar Livestreaming while playing mobile games like Pokémon GO can be a fun and engaging way to build an audience. But it also comes with risks, as one Twitch streamer learned firsthand after being assaulted by a group of teens while catching Pokémon in New York City.
Streamer Confronted and Pelted With BBs While Live
On Sunday, February 25th, Twitch streamer and Pokémon GO player ‘BrandonTheGr8’ was playing the popular mobile game on the streets of NYC.
While livestreaming for his audience, Brandon walked past a large group of masked teenagers.
At first, he paid them no mind, until they suddenly began shooting him in the leg with BB pellets.
Understandably startled, Brandon turned around and confronted the group, reminding them they were online.
But rather than back down, the teens began threatening to rob Brandon, and one even slapped him in the back of the head.
i was assaulted on stream yesterday. a group of teens shot me w/ a BB gun, threatened to rob me, followed me and slapped my head. they backed away when i entered the train station to find an officer. i am okay and not injured.
be aware & careful out there yall pic.twitter.com/yceE5u9lot
— BrandonTheGr8 Variety/IRL Streamer (@BrandonTheGr8TV) February 26, 2024
Viral Clip Garnered Attention
A clip of the perplexing incident quickly went viral, amassing thousands of views across social media. Commenters expressed shock at the teens’ brazen behavior.
In a post on Reddit, Brandon provided more context, explaining the group followed him until he reached a subway station and spoke with a police officer.
Ultimately, he decided not to escalate the situation further and ran as fast as possible.
While Brandon escaped without serious physical injury, he noted the encounter highlighted the potential risks of livestreaming in public.
“If you’re not careful,” he wrote, “there are risks and dangers to IRL streaming.”
was not expecting to be reposted by the news today but here we are.
for those wondering, i’m okay. this happened in front of a major transport hub & i was able to escape the situation quickly.
since im seeing things said, i DO NOT condone any racism said about this whatsoever https://t.co/KhUKrcPy40
— BrandonTheGr8 Variety/IRL Streamer (@BrandonTheGr8TV) March 1, 2024
Public Misbehavior by Large Groups of Teens Not Uncommon
Unfortunately, this kind of public misbehavior by large groups of teenagers is not uncommon. Recently, a fashion mall in California implemented age restrictions after destructive brawls involving up to 1,000 teens in December (fake Alien case).
The rise of social media and messaging apps makes it easier for kids to coordinate meetups that can quickly get out of hand. And the anonymity of wearing masks, as Brandon’s assailants did, may embolden some to act out.