Some outraged viewers have criticised a controversial YouTube star for a stunt in which he threw money on a homeless man in Sydney, deeming it “degrading.”
Luke Erwin, a Gold Coast-based social media sensation, is shown in his most recent TikTok video raining $5 bills over a man’s head as he sits on the street.
“Here we go, let’s go, baby!” he chuckles as $100 in $5 bills fall to the ground and a man swiftly begins to gather them.
‘It’s all yours, mate. No one’s going to take it from you, you f***ing sick c***,’ he says.
‘Don’t get on a f***ing bender with that. That’s yours, brother.’
The prankster explains in a lengthier version of the video released to his YouTube account that the action is part of his new series titled “Making it Rain.”
Erwin tells the camera that he knows donating $100 is a ‘bit stingy’ but justifies the sum by saying ‘it could be someone’s rent’.
After showering the man with cash, the influencer wishes him a speedy recovery before shifting his focus to a neighbouring homeless lady.
As another wave of $5 bills fall around her, the lady covers her head and reaches up to hug Erwin.
‘I don’t get this. a few weeks ago I brought a guy a tent bedding clothes and a pouch of smokes. I didn’t film it and missed out on buying myself a PS4,’ a fourth shared.
Another said: ‘That’s disgusting. It’s getting out of hand now. You help because you want to make a change not to get likes.’
A fifth Aussie said: Don’t blame him ,blame the stupid followers that praise this kind of behaviour and give him status.’
However, others congratulated Erwin for giving back to those in need.
‘You’re awesome Luke, all the haters commenting have never done anything this nice for strangers,’ one woman wrote.
‘Much respect brother,’ another said.
‘Best thing l have seen you do ever,’ a third commented.
Erwin told Daily Mail Australia he hadn’t expected any backlash on the video and called on his critics to give back to their communities.
‘To the people that are giving me shit, f*** them, I don’t see them out doing anything,’ the YouTube star said.
‘The people that are complaining, they’ve just never donated in their life.’
Erwin’s latest prank is part of a string of controversial videos he has uploaded to social media, many of them featuring bikini-clad models.
It also isn’t the first time the prankster has targeted homeless people in his stunts.
The influencer was forced to delete a video of him playing a cruel ‘sneezing prank’ on a homeless man after he was criticised by viewers in May last year.
Erwin is seen walking towards a shirtless man armed with a green spray bottle and spraying him across his bare back while pretending to sneeze on him.
When the man turns around, the prankster continues the gag by clutching at his nose, hiding the spray bottle with his other hand.
While the man appeared unaware of the nature of the prank, viewers were quick to accuse Erwin of being ‘tone-deaf’ and exploiting him for cheap laughs.
‘Imagine sitting around with your group of friends thinking how you need new content and thinking of this bright idea to go out into the public and pick on the less fortunate,’ one person wrote.
‘You have just proven that you have a complete lack of empathy towards other human beings.’