MANILA, Philippines – Bonifacio Global City (BGC) said it is taking legal measures against Russian YouTuber Vitaly Zdorovetskiy following his controversial IRL video, DISTURBING THE PEACE in Philippines.
The video, which features a devil emoji in its title and is available online, has sparked outrage online due to his disruptive and inappropriate behavior toward unsuspecting Filipinos in BGC.
In an official statement on Wednesday, April 2, BGC management confirmed that they were coordinating with authorities to address the incidents involving the social media personality.
“We are aware of multiple reports regarding disruptive incidents involving a social media personality within BGC,” the statement read.
“We are actively coordinating with the appropriate authorities and are pursuing necessary legal measures to address the situation.”
“Ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone in BGC remains our top priority. We continue to work closely with the authorities to uphold safety and security within the estate,” BGC added.
Offensive publicity stunts
Vitaly, who has over 10 million YouTube subscribers, is notorious for controversial publicity stunts.
Vitaly’s latest video, filmed in BGC, shows him engaging in reckless and offensive behavior with passersby, including riding a patrol motorcycle without permission and then offering a hug to the angered security guard. Vitaly told his companion to say to the guard that he “has retardation” and “is autistic.”
Vitaly also threatened to rob a woman (I’m going to f****ng rob you!) while reaching for his bag before pretending it was a prank. He then made derogatory comments about her wearing a “COVID mask,” calling her a “liberal f**k.”
He was also seen stealing a security guard’s cap multiple times, forcibly filming a security guard who confronted him, stealing a heavy-duty electric fan from a restaurant and bringing it into a hotel, and recklessly driving a tricycle that crashed into a parked jeepney.
Beyond BGC, Zdorovetskiy was also reported to have allegedly harassed a Filipino instructor in Boracay with vulgar, sexually degrading remarks and encouraged his followers to leave fake negative reviews on a local business, leading to accusations of cyber harassment.
Call to action
Following the backlash, a Change.org petition was started demanding action against the YouTuber. The petition calls for a permanent ban on Vitaly from major social media platforms, including YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
The petition also demands a travel ban and entry blacklist imposed by the Philippine government, citing him as a threat to public safety. It also hopes for public condemnation from officials and platform leaders, reinforcing that influencers are not above the law.
“This is not content creation. This is not free speech. This is abuse. This is a crime. Zdorovetskiy has built a career on disrespect, chaos, and provoking harm. What happened in the Philippines is not an isolated incident. It’s a pattern, and it must stop now,” the petition read.
Vitaly was previously arrested in 2016 for illegally climbing the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles. In 2020, he was jailed for scaling the Pyramids of Giza. – Rappler.com