Malaysian creators slammed for giving homeless man bones in staged video, triggering national backlash.

A viral video showing Malaysian influencers handing chicken bones to a homeless man has ignited widespread criticism, raising questions about ethics in content creation and the exploitation of vulnerable groups.

The Controversial “Kindness” Video

Three Malaysian content creators came under fire after a now-deleted video surfaced on Instagram, showing them giving a homeless man a meal made of leftover chicken bones and rice. In the clip, the group is seen eating fried chicken, collecting the discarded bones, and packaging them with rice before handing it to a homeless man resting outside a restaurant.

Despite visibly realizing the meal contained only bones, the man still expressed gratitude. The video then showed the trio giving the remaining chicken skin to a dog instead, further infuriating viewers.

Netizens Call It A “Degrading Prank”

The footage rapidly went viral after being reposted on Threads by another Malaysian influencer, who condemned the act as humiliating. Public response was swift and angry:

• Users criticized the creators for exploiting a vulnerable person for views.
• Some demanded action from the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
• Others highlighted the lack of judgment across the video’s production — from filming to editing.

One viral comment read, “Three people — from filming to editing — and none of them thought there was anything wrong.”

Content Creator Responds: “It Was Staged”

Following the backlash, one of the creators — Instagram user @aluk_77, who has over 140,000 followers — issued a public apology. In a clarification video, he stated that the video was staged with the homeless man’s consent.

“We followed the man and he agreed to act with us. We didn’t give him just bones,” @aluk_77 said.

He claimed that after filming, the man received a full meal with two pieces of fried chicken. A follow-up clip appeared to confirm this. Still, @aluk_77 acknowledged poor execution and stated that the team failed to communicate their intentions.

Ethics In Influencer Culture

Despite the apology, the damage to public trust remains. Critics argue the skit reflects a disturbing trend in influencer culture — using the less fortunate as props for views. Many questioned whether genuine kindness can exist if it’s filmed for social validation.

Some netizens noted that even with consent, the portrayal was degrading and unnecessary. Others urged creators to focus on meaningful, respectful ways of helping without turning it into staged content.

Larger Implications For The Region

This incident has struck a nerve not just in Malaysia, but also across neighboring countries like Indonesia and Singapore, where influencer culture similarly thrives. It has prompted calls for clearer ethical guidelines in content creation, especially when involving at-risk communities.

The Malaysian public’s response underscores growing sensitivity toward digital ethics, where good intentions alone no longer justify insensitive storytelling.

This incident highlights a growing regional concern over how social media fame can distort acts of kindness. As content creation blurs the lines between entertainment and reality, both creators and audiences must reflect on the moral cost of viral content, especially when it involves the most vulnerable members of society.

Sources: Must Share News (2025) , Weird Kaya (2025)

Keywords: Viral Video, Chicken Bones, Homeless Man, Malaysian Influencers, Public Apology, Online Outrage