YouTube superstar IShowSpeed attracts crowds and chaos with his Hong Kong debut

YouTube star IShowSpeed’s visit to Hong Kong has drawn crowds of fans and resulted in the occasional moment of chaos, with the American live-streaming as he met the pandas at Ocean Park, rode a tram in Sheung Wan and bought snacks on Temple Street. The 20-year-old streamer, whose real name is Darren Jason Watkins Jnr, was in Sheung Wan on Friday afternoon. The famous Cristiano Ronaldo fan even hopped onto a tram advertising the football superstar’s coming museum in Hong Kong. But he appeared stressed at times as hordes of fans chased after his vehicle on the open road. Watkins was repeatedly heard shouting at them to “get off the road”. IShowSpeed also visited Kam Shan Country Park and celebrated hitting 38 million subscribers on YouTube, before stopping by the Temple Street Night Market for food – all the while surrounded by crowds of spectators. At one point of his hours-long live stream, several people on motorcycles were seen chasing after his car and knocking on his window. He was able to escape the large crowds when he boarded a boat at around 6pm to enjoy a sunset harbour cruise, where he mingled with other tourists. “I came here to travel, to have fun and have greatness … but it didn’t go so well,” he said to them. “There was a lot of people; there were a lot of kids – it’s a public holiday today, so the kids didn’t have school.” The YouTuber, dressed in a Hong Kong football team shirt, spent Friday morning taking part in a “villain-hitting” ritual in the neighbourhood and eating breakfast from fast-food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken. Fans followed his every move during the short appearance in Causeway Bay, stopping him for autographs and photos, while some even handed over gifts. “Why does everybody speak English here? Everybody who I met spoke English,” he said during his live stream, adding that it caught him off guard. More than 150,000 people were watching his live stream in Hong Kong by Friday evening. The streamer also visited Ocean Park on Friday, adding that he wanted to see a panda for the first time. “Pandas don’t look real. How are they real animals?” he said, while viewing the city’s new baby panda cubs and their mother, Ying Ying, at the theme park. Fans followed him as he walked through the park. At one point, he offered to tie their shoelaces as a friendly gesture before getting into a cable car. IShowSpeed, sometimes just known as Speed, is known for his dramatic and exaggerated personality. While initially focused on video game content, he has more recently taken his live streams global as he travels the world. He is currently on a weeks-long trip to mainland China, Hong Kong and Mongolia. Before arriving in Hong Kong on Friday, he had travelled to Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Chongqing. Highlights of his live streams so far include doing a backflip on the Great Wall of China, tasting spicy hotpot in Chengdu, learning kung fu with Shaolin monks and taking a night ferry tour showing off the futuristic Chongqing skyline. His other live streams for the trip have lasted for about six hours in each location, with the past videos amassing a combined 36 million views on YouTube. His trip has been hailed by Beijing officials and state media as evidence of a growing desire for mutual understanding between Americans and Chinese amid escalating trade frictions. The online star, who hails from the Midwestern state of Ohio, is seen in the lengthy productions praising the people who greeted him enthusiastically, as well as places’ clean streets and internet connectivity that remains fast and stable on subway rides. Watkins is expected to continue his live stream in Hong Kong on Saturday. Hong Kong police said they had received at least two complaints from MTR staff over fans chasing the YouTuber onto a train. “At approximately [3.43pm], a Youtuber known as ‘Speed’ appeared at Tin Hau station, during which approximately 500 people followed him, leading to significant overcrowding in the station,” a force spokeswoman said. She added that the YouTuber and the crowd left the station about 15 minutes later, after which staff discovered a damaged gate and Octopus card reader. “After on-site investigation, the police have classified the cases as ‘complaint’ and ‘criminal damage’, respectively,” she said.

YouTube superstar IShowSpeed attracts crowds and chaos with his Hong Kong debut

Hong Kong police say at least two complaints filed over fans chasing streamer onto train, with station gate and Octopus card reader damaged

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