Influencer’s Machete and Alcohol Giveaway Sparks National Alarm

New Delhi, December 2, 2025: A social media influencer, Keith Castillo, operating under the handle “povwolfy,” has triggered widespread condemnation and alarm after viral video footage showed him distributing 18-inch machetes and bottles of alcohol to homeless individuals in several US cities. The controversial “giveaway” was openly admitted by Castillo to be partially motivated by a desire for “clicks and views,” and plans were revealed for the stunt to be brought to New York City next.

The Viral Stunt Is Documented

The highly shared videos were posted on TikTok and Instagram over the Thanksgiving holiday, documenting the distribution of the items in cities including Austin, New Orleans, and Little Rock. The footage showed Castillo offering the machetes, reportedly purchased in bulk online for under $5 each, to men experiencing homelessness. In one particularly viewed clip, a man was heard responding to the offer of the weapon with enthusiasm: “Hell yeah, man.”

Castillo, a 29-year-old from Corpus Christi, defended his actions by claiming the knives were intended to “keep homeless folks safe” and serve as tools. However, his admission that he also planned to distribute 66-proof Cinnamon whisky along with the weapons intensified the public and expert criticism.

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Critics Warn of Escalating Violence

The stunt was met with immediate and harsh criticism from social media users and law enforcement experts. Comment sections were filled with warnings that the action would likely increase danger rather than safety. The combination of readily available weapons and alcohol was quickly branded a “cocktail for disaster” by retired NYPD Sergeant and John Jay College of Criminal Justice professor Joseph Giacalone.

While the mere possession of a machete is reportedly not illegal in the cities where the giveaways occurred, the ethical implications of handing out large blades and liquor to a vulnerable population were severely questioned. Critics argued that the influencer was recklessly prioritizing online engagement over public safety, potentially escalating violence within already marginalized communities.

New York City Target Draws Scrutiny

The announcement that the controversial giveaway would be brought to New York City in January, along with plans for stops in Las Vegas and Los Angeles’ Skid Row, drew particular scrutiny. The explicit plan to distribute both the weapons and the strong liquor in densely populated urban environments has amplified calls for local authorities to intervene before the stunts can be carried out.

The viral attention achieved by the videos underscores a growing trend of content creators engaging in increasingly shocking or dangerous stunts purely for the purpose of generating maximum views and online notoriety, regardless of the potential real-world harm inflicted.