Malaysian influencers’ chicken bones prank on homeless man sparks police probe

A video of the content creators showing them offering the bones to the man after eating at a KFC restaurant has ignited public anger

Three content creators in Malaysia are facing a police probe after a video of them giving chicken bones to a homeless man went viral, prompting a public outcry despite their swift apology for a hollow act of charity that they said was staged for their Instagram page.

The video, in Mandarin and originally uploaded on social media, shows the trio eating fried chicken at a KFC restaurant.

The giggling trio then wrap up the chicken bones with rice, saying “don’t waste food” and film themselves offering the food waste to a sleeping homeless man.

As his reaction turns from delight to misery after discovering the paltry offer, the content creators give a thumbs up.

The video has stirred an immediate backlash, with the trio accused of “rage baiting” by creating appalling content to drive engagement on their accounts.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission said on Tuesday that the video was “exploitation of the marginalised in the name of cheap entertainment”, which has caused public grievances.

“The dissemination of content that degrades or insults the dignity of individuals is not only unethical, but also leads to the normalisation of inhumane culture in society,” it added.

The commission is investigating the matter under the Communication and Multimedia Act for the dissemination of obscene content. A person who is convicted of such a charge may face a maximum two-year jail sentence as well as a fine of up to 500,000 ringgit (US$118,000).

The content creators apologised on Monday, claiming in a new video that they had planned it with the homeless man, who willingly took part in the stunt.

“He said we could make this video together,” one of the trio said. The homeless man received a full meal from them before they shot the video, he added.

The apology, however, did not placate critics, with another content creator saying the trio had failed to understand the reasons behind the public anger.

“The issue isn’t whether the homeless man is worthy of your help, or whether you gave him a complete meal. It’s that you gave him chicken bones that you had already eaten,” she said.

“Good deeds aren’t done this way, and gaining views shouldn’t be done this way either.”

Unhandled type: inline-plus-widget {“type”:”inline-plus-widget”}

Agnes Lim, an emcee and actress, joined the chorus of criticism, calling for the trio to delete their social media accounts and “leave the internet for good”.

“This act isn’t just insensitive, it’s inhumane,” Lim said.

“Now trying to justify it in the name of ‘doing charity’ just makes it worse. This is not a mistake. This is who you are.”