Influencer Who Exploits Poor People for Views Gets Called Out

Influencer Gets Called Out for Exploiting Poor, Editing Restaurant Owner to Look Like He's Being a "Jerk"

Nov. Four 2023, Published 10:11 a.m. ET

If you have scrolled around social media sufficient, you will have more than likely observed the clips of people strolling around recording themselves appearing just right deeds all in the name of "spreading positivity" and provoking others to help those in want.

All while amassing internet clout for themselves and a larger following in the process.

There are some folks who query the sincerity of people doing excellent deeds handiest when there are people around to witness it, or if there's a digicam to report them appearing said act(s) of decency.

One influencer who lately got here beneath scrutiny, @joshlilj, discovered himself at the receiving end of some complaint through any other user on the platform, referred to as Scumbag Dad (@thescumbagdad) who had some selection words for Josh's video where he asks a person working a scorching dog stand if he could buy 30 sizzling canine.

In the original clip, the person working the stand can be noticed questioning Josh's request, reputedly annoyed that he would make the sort of massive order request proper off the bat instead of calling forward to provide him adequate time to arrange mentioned hot dogs.

Scumbag Dad comprises this portion of Josh's video in the beginning of the clip.

Josh asks, "Five bucks for a hot dog? Okay. I'll do 30 of them."

The man in the hot canine stand asks the influencer, "Are you joking?"

"You have to call me in advance I can't do that."

"How many can you do?" Josh asks.

The scorching dog seller still seems to be frustrated, "Are you serious man or are you bulls---- me?"

"No, I'm serious we're going to go hand them out to the homeless."

"Listen, if you wanna do that you should do that. I don't prepare for that," the man tells him.

"What do you prepare for?" Josh asks.

"I'm prepared for the normal business that I have to do. If you guys really want to buy 20 hot dogs from me, I'll make 20 hot dogs."

"Is that easy to do?" Josh asks.

"Yeah," the fellow says.

"Let's do it," Josh tells him, earlier than asking how long the person has been in trade whilst telling him that he does not want to hurry to get the hot dogs carried out.

Scumbag Dad, had some criticisms for Josh and his option to performing his good Samaritan work, writing in a caption for the clip that the industry proprietor's simplest crime used to be not in need of to feed an Influencer's ego: "This video is horrible but not for the reasons you might think."

The TikToker endured, "This Influencer, @joshlilj, decides to make this guy look like a huge a------ just because he doesn't want to participate in his little game. Most people in the world do not want to be filmed for your TikToks whether you pay them money or not. Josh offered him a tip at the end and he rejected it."

"Josh tried to make him pick a follower to get 100 bucks and he rejected it cause he's busy. Josh edited this video to make him look like an a------ and then shouted out his business. And thanks to this 'shout out,' now people are review bombing him. Josh knew he'd get hit more hits if he made the owner seem like an a------ and now look his business is being hurt because of it."

In his video, Scumbag dad shows screenshots of a Google evaluations page that highlighted a 1-star review that the recent canine stand won. "I spoke to him personally you did not inform me of what you were doing you just turned on the camera and let it rip. You also chose to film outside rather than the interior of the restaurant just in case he decided you to take it down."

The TikToker went directly to critique other videos uploaded by Josh, declaring, "Let's not forget that Josh's entire platform is exploitation of the poor. Let's not forget that he approaches people directly when they are dumpster diving. Let's not forget that he was once under a different name and caused a fight at a convenience store. People who have no talent, can't write, can't act, can't sing, and don't look good, well they outsource their content to other people."

Scumbag Dad lumped Josh on this latter class of content writer, suggesting that Josh's TikTok views have been parasitic in nature and reliant on the exploitation of people in less-than-advantageous situations. "The poor are readily available. This man even took your camera man to talk about the ethics of what you're doing and explained that you're just doing this to aggrandize yourself and if you really wanted to help people, there are much better ways to do it."

His rant went on, "But you just chopped this up to make him seem like a jerk. Doing one good thing does not make you good. You can still be a weird, selfish, son of a b---- and give tacos to a homeless man. When someone decides to use a stranger and make him look like an a------ for their content, for their profit, and for their own use, they are a bad person. You should stop."

Commenters who responded to The Scumbag Dad's video had various other opinions at the matter. There used to be one particular person who didn't think it was fair of the influencer to criticize Josh because, on the finish of the day, he was once feeding the homeless: "you criticize someone helping others that have nothing but your NOT HELPING do you make this vid to STARVE homeless?"

However, there have been others who gave the impression to believe Scumbag Dad's assessment of the location: "Anyone who has worked in food understands the frustration that man is dealing with," one wrote.

Another simply called Josh's behavior a results of "The influencer effect"

While any person else called out another influencer they think acts similarly to Josh: "Same thing with Jimmy Darts. I get that he’s trying to help people but idk something seems off."

"I'm always suspicious when someone makes money out of doing good and building a platform on that alone especially," another penned.

And then there was a TikToker who applauded Scumbag Dad for the call out: "I always appreciate you calling these people out in such a detailed and succinct manner."

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