British streamer and online personality Sam Pepper has once again found himself in the center of controversy, this time for a dangerous and ill-judged stunt during Diwali celebrations in New Delhi, India. The former YouTube prankster, now known for his presence on the streaming platform Kick, was participating in a live broadcast when a firework he launched struck a young girl in the face, leaving her injured and sparking outrage across social media. While the child has since recovered, the incident has reignited debate over influencer accountability, the limits of entertainment content, and the ethical boundaries of livestream culture.
A Dangerous Livestream Turns Tragic
The Diwali festival, known for its lights, fireworks, and joyous gatherings, became the backdrop for a shocking accident that has reverberated throughout online communities. During the incident, Pepper and a group of fellow Kick streamers were engaged in a chaotic and reckless exchange of Roman candles—handheld fireworks that shoot out colorful fireballs—while livestreaming to thousands of viewers. What began as a display of energy and festivity soon spiraled out of control when local residents reportedly joined in the dangerous game, escalating the chaos on the crowded New Delhi street.
The situation turned critical when Pepper fired one of the fireworks, and it struck a young girl in the face. On livestream, Pepper could be heard exclaiming, “Oh my God!” seemingly in excitement, while another participant shouted “headshot!” Moments later, the mood shifted drastically as someone informed the group that the girl had been seriously injured. According to witnesses, she was quickly taken to the hospital, and one bystander was heard claiming that her “eye is gone.”
The livestream continued briefly before Pepper appeared to realize the gravity of what had occurred. As clips of the incident spread across social media, outrage mounted, with users condemning the streamer’s apparent lack of awareness and sensitivity. The fact that the accident occurred during a celebratory cultural festival only heightened the sense of disrespect and recklessness surrounding the stunt.
British YouTuber Sam Pepper (36) has admitted to injuring a young girl during a Diwali fireworks mishap in New Delhi
— Tushar ॐ♫₹ (@Tushar_KN) October 23, 2025
Lectures on civic sense seem to apply only to Indians, not to foreigners, especially not to the British pic.twitter.com/jiZRiGxWVy
In the days following the event, initial rumors about the girl’s condition circulated widely online, with many fearing the worst. However, Pepper later clarified that he had been told by locals that the girl had not lost her eye but did suffer facial injuries that required stitches. She was subsequently released from the hospital. Pepper said he sent a friend to check on her and cover her medical expenses, confirming that compensation had been provided to the family.
Pepper’s Response and Ban from Kick
After the incident, Sam Pepper issued several statements attempting to clarify what had happened and to express remorse, though his comments drew mixed reactions from the public. “It was an accident,” he said, acknowledging that his actions were reckless but unintentional. “The family don’t speak English, so I briefly said sorry, but that’s it. [I] was too embarrassed to bother them more than that.”
While Pepper did offer to pay for the girl’s medical treatment, his admission that he avoided deeper engagement with the family raised questions about the sincerity of his apology and his understanding of the cultural context. Many critics argued that his brief apology and subsequent decision not to further interact with the family demonstrated detachment rather than genuine accountability.
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The controversy prompted swift action from online platforms. Kick, the streaming site that had become a hub for Pepper’s recent content, permanently banned him in the aftermath of the incident. A message posted to Pepper’s Discord server confirmed the decision, in which he wrote, “I’m never coming back to Kick.” Additionally, the crypto-based social platform Pump.fun, where Pepper had also maintained a presence, reportedly followed suit and removed him from its network.
Public reaction was polarized. While some fans defended Pepper, arguing that the incident was a tragic mistake blown out of proportion, a much larger wave of online users condemned his behavior as reckless, irresponsible, and emblematic of a wider trend of dangerous content creation for views. Indian social media users, in particular, expressed anger at what they perceived as a lack of respect for local customs and the disregard for safety during a religious festival.
Observers also noted that the livestream culture encouraged by platforms like Kick—known for looser moderation and more permissive policies than mainstream competitors such as Twitch—can incentivize increasingly extreme stunts in pursuit of engagement. The accident, many argued, underscored the growing ethical dilemma facing the livestreaming industry: how to balance entertainment and spontaneity with public safety and moral responsibility.
A History of Controversy and Recklessness
The Diwali firework incident is far from the first time Sam Pepper’s name has been associated with controversy. Pepper first rose to fame in the early 2010s as a contestant on the British reality show Big Brother, but his real notoriety began on YouTube, where he became infamous for his “prank” videos—many of which were criticized for crossing ethical boundaries.
In 2014, Pepper was accused of sexual harassment after several women came forward claiming he had groped them during so-called “prank” videos and public appearances. The allegations led to widespread condemnation and calls for his removal from YouTube, though he denied wrongdoing at the time. Despite the backlash, Pepper continued to post provocative content, often designed to shock or anger viewers.
The following year, in 2015, he uploaded one of his most notorious videos, titled Killing Best Friend Prank. The video depicted what appeared to be a real execution, with Pepper staging a mock shooting of another YouTuber, leaving both the victim and the audience believing it was genuine. Though Pepper later revealed that the video had been staged in collaboration with creators Sam Golbach and Colby Brock, the stunt provoked outrage. Viewers described the content as traumatic and manipulative, and a petition demanding YouTube ban his channel gathered over 100,000 signatures.
After facing sustained criticism, Pepper temporarily disappeared from public view, only to reemerge years later as a streamer and online entrepreneur. He found a new home on Kick, a platform that attracted a number of controversial figures due to its relaxed content moderation. For a time, Pepper appeared to be reinventing his image—hosting gaming streams, chatting with fans, and engaging in the crypto community. Yet the Diwali accident demonstrates how his brand of impulsive, thrill-seeking content remains largely unchanged.
Critics argue that the pattern in Pepper’s career reflects a broader problem with influencer culture—where controversy and virality often outweigh ethics and reflection. While some content creators have matured and adapted to public criticism, Pepper’s repeated involvement in incidents that cause real-world harm suggests a persistent disregard for consequence.
The Broader Debate Over Influencer Accountability
The fallout from Pepper’s firework stunt has reignited discussion about the responsibilities of influencers and livestreamers, especially when their content involves public spaces or other participants who have not consented to be part of their broadcasts. The viral nature of livestreaming means that mistakes or accidents are amplified in real time, often without the possibility of editing or context.
In Pepper’s case, the accident occurred in a densely populated area of New Delhi during one of the city’s busiest festivals—a time when families and children are out celebrating. Critics have argued that any responsible adult, particularly one livestreaming to an international audience, should have recognized the dangers of firing fireworks at people in such a setting. The fact that Pepper was participating in this activity for entertainment value, rather than as part of an organized event, only deepened the public’s sense of outrage.
Experts in media ethics have pointed out that livestream platforms like Kick and Rumble often blur the lines between reality and performance. The constant pressure to attract viewers and donations can push creators to take risks they might otherwise avoid. In Pepper’s case, those risks led to real physical harm—and the victim happened to be a child celebrating a cultural holiday.
The incident also exposes a cultural disconnect between Western influencers seeking global audiences and the local communities they interact with. Pepper’s brief apology and admission that he was “too embarrassed to bother” the family highlight how language barriers and cultural unfamiliarity can exacerbate misunderstandings in moments that demand empathy and accountability.
For many in India, the event felt emblematic of a larger issue: the intrusion of reckless online celebrity culture into spaces meant for community celebration. Several Indian commentators noted that the livestream trivialized a sacred festival and turned a moment of joy into one of distress. Even though Pepper reportedly compensated the family and covered the girl’s hospital bills, many argued that financial restitution does not equate to moral accountability.
As public outrage continues, platforms like Kick face growing scrutiny over their content moderation policies. Kick, which has built its reputation as a “freedom-friendly” alternative to Twitch, has become a haven for controversial streamers banned elsewhere. Pepper’s expulsion marks one of the rare instances in which the platform has taken decisive action against a creator for off-platform behavior, signaling potential pressure from advertisers and public opinion.
For Sam Pepper himself, the incident may prove career-defining. While he has survived scandals before, the optics of injuring a child—especially in a country already sensitive to issues of Western cultural disrespect—could permanently damage his public image. His declaration that he is “never coming back” to Kick may indicate resignation rather than protest, as he faces dwindling opportunities for legitimate platforms to host his content.
Whether Pepper can recover from this latest controversy remains uncertain. What is clear is that the age of unfiltered, high-risk livestreaming continues to generate real-world consequences, both for the creators chasing views and for the unsuspecting people caught in their path. In the end, the Diwali firework accident stands as a stark reminder of how the pursuit of online fame can collide disastrously with basic human decency—and how one reckless moment, broadcast to the world, can undo years of attempted reinvention.