Clips posted under the handle “povwolfy” show distributions in multiple Southern cities and new plans to visit larger markets next.
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — A series of social media videos showing a man handing out 18-inch machetes, liquor and cigarettes to people who appear to be homeless has ignited outrage this week, prompting condemnations from service providers and renewed scrutiny from officials in cities where the clips were filmed and where the poster says he plans to travel next.
Why it matters: The posts, recorded in public places and amplified on TikTok and Instagram, depict encounters in Austin, New Orleans and Little Rock and preview stops in larger markets, including New York City and Las Vegas. The account, operated by an aspiring content creator identified by viewers as Keith Castillo, presents the handouts as “gifts” or “tools.” Advocates say the stunt exploits vulnerable people and could escalate risks for them and others. City leaders and outreach groups are weighing responses as the videos continue to circulate and rack up views.
In the clips, the man approaches individuals on sidewalks and encampments, offering a shrink-wrapped machete, a bottle of vodka or miniature liquor bottles, and cigarettes. Some recipients appear confused; others accept the items. The videos are edited with captions and music, and at times the narrator jokes about “big swords” or frames the exchanges as challenges. In one sequence, he tells viewers he is “helping people stay safe,” a line that echoes through thousands of comments beneath the posts. The creator has said on camera that he consulted police beforehand and that the giveaways were legal where they occurred. He also acknowledges on video that the content is designed for “clicks and views,” a phrase critics seized on as the clips spread.
Reactions were swift. “That video is ridiculous,” said Catrina Grigsby-Thedford, executive director of the Nevada Homeless Alliance, reacting to the prospect of a similar giveaway in Las Vegas. “People who are unhoused need housing, medical care and stability, not weapons or alcohol,” she said. Outreach workers in Texas and Louisiana described the giveaways as destabilizing and dangerous, noting they spend weeks building trust only to have encounters like these undermine progress. Law enforcement analysts who reviewed the footage called the conduct reckless, saying a machete presented as a “gift” can quickly become a threat, regardless of intent. The influencer later said in a separate video that one “machete bit” was meant as a skit and that he did not expect it to go viral. He has continued to tease future stops and insists no laws were broken in the cities shown so far.
Community context adds urgency. Austin has seen periodic tensions around encampment clearances since voters reinstated the city’s public camping ban, while New Orleans and Little Rock have wrestled with larger public-safety debates downtown. Advocates say ready access to alcohol can worsen medical crises, especially for those with substance use disorders, and that large blades in crowded areas raise obvious safety concerns. In several frames, the machetes remain in packaging purchased in bulk online, underscoring how cheaply such items can enter public spaces. Commenters also flagged that the videos appear to include paid promotion overlays for betting or giveaway apps, suggesting financial motives beyond follower growth. None of the departments shown in the clips have announced formal charges tied to the posts, and it remains unclear whether any 911 calls were generated directly by the filmed handouts.
Several cities are now working through next steps. In Las Vegas, service providers said they would increase outreach around the Corridor of Hope and downtown encampments if the account announces a firm date. In New York, officials said they were monitoring the situation and reviewing whether local knife and public-safety ordinances could apply if similar conduct occurs there. Police in the cities shown to date have not publicly detailed investigations, though legal analysts note prosecutors could still consider charges if evidence shows intent to provoke harm or if other violations occurred during filming. Advocacy groups are also discussing civil remedies, including restraining orders near shelters, while reminding the public that filming and posting identifiable people in crisis can violate privacy and dignity even when it is legal.
On the ground, outreach teams described the ripple effects. “When someone shows up with a camera and hands out blades, we spend the next week trying to calm people down,” said Jordan Peña, a Texas case manager who supervises mobile outreach near state highways. A New Orleans shelter volunteer said residents asked staff whether they needed to carry weapons to be “safe” after seeing the clips, a question that staff tried to redirect toward de-escalation and services. Along the Las Vegas Strip and in the Arts District, pedestrians expressed frustration that the videos treat human suffering as a prop for entertainment. “It’s not funny,” said café worker Denise Morales. “It puts people at risk and then leaves our neighborhood to deal with it.” Those reactions echoed online, where thousands of comments criticized the stunt as exploitative while a smaller set defended it as protected speech and content.
As of Wednesday, the poster continued to promote travel plans and defended earlier videos while acknowledging regret about the attention they drew. Cities named in the clips said they would issue updates if firm dates emerge. Service providers urged people to point anyone filmed back toward established shelters and clinics, and police said they are reviewing whether any conduct in the videos violates local ordinances governing weapons in public places. The next milestone is whether the account sets a date for a Las Vegas or New York appearance; officials in both cities said they are preparing contingency plans for outreach and safety if that happens.
Author note: Last updated December 3, 2025.