Live Streamer Responds to Backlash After He Filmed Himself Jumping into Florida River During Hurricane Milton

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo:MikeSmallsJr/Youtube

MikeSmallsJr/Youtube

A live streamer who received backlash after he filmed himself jumping into a Florida river duringHurricane Miltonis speaking out about the criticism.

Smalls, who had with him an umbrella and an air mattress, said that if he hit 100,000 viewers, he would jump in a steadily flooding river and float on his mattress.

The content creator later toldBBCthat his plan for the live stream was to “get some nice clips and then, if things get too wild, I can just, you know, track my little five, 10-minute walk back home.”

However, Smalls said he quickly realized the stunt was going to be more dangerous than he thought after he hit his goal and jumped into the water.

Smalls tosses his air mattress into a Tampa river.MikeSmallsJr/Youtube

Smalls said he knew the live stream — which isstill available to watch on Kickin two parts — was “controversial” and that he was not only putting his own life at risk but the lives of those who might try to save him. Still, he told BBC he would be willing to do a similar stunt again “if the price is right.”

Smalls and fellow streamer Adin Ross confirmed during the Kick live stream that someone else had won the $70,000 “hurricane challenge” grand prize.

Kick told BBC in a statement that it is “a fiercely creator-first platform, and we do not influence the content our creators chose to stream. However, if that content breaches our Terms of Service, or is in any way illegal, then we can impose a ban or suspension.”

Just weeks prior, Smalls did something similar amidHurricane Helene, filming himself hauling a tent through the storm as he live streamed for more than five hours to, as he said, “entertain the people.”

For Smalls, who told BBC that streaming on Kick is his full-time job, the risks associated with such stunts are just part of the job.

BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP via Getty

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“From a content creator standpoint, people like to see kind of edgy things," he added.

Smalls also told the U.K. outlet that he realizes taking part in these risky stunts impacts other people besides himself.

“Don’t save me,” he said. “If I do another hurricane? All right. You ain’t got to say nothing. I do not want to put your life at risk. No.”

At least 23 people have died as a result of Milton, which made landfall near Siesta Key on Wednesday, Oct. 9, as a category 3 storm, according toCBS News.

Florida Gov.Ron DeSantis, who declared a state of emergency for dozens of counties before Milton hit, previously said19 tornadoes touched downas the hurricane moved ashore.

By Friday, Oct. 11, more than 2.2 million people remained without power in central and southern Florida, according toPowerOutage.us.

source: people.com