A live streamer has shrugged off criticism following a video he recorded during Hurricane Milton. Mike Smalls Jr filmed himself floating down a river in Tampa, Florida, during the Category 5 hurricane in hopes of winning a $70,000 prize. Influencer Adin Ross offered the significant cash prize to creators on the live-streaming platform Kick as part of his “survival challenge.” The controversial footage, recorded on October 9, showed Smalls telling his viewers that if he reached 10,000 views, he would launch himself and his mattress into the water.
Viewers raised concerns that Smalls was endangering his own life and potentially risking the safety of rescuers, all for the sake of creating content and making money. Speaking to the BBC, Smalls acknowledged the controversy surrounding his video and stated that he understands the viewers’ worries. However, he defended his actions by saying, “From a content creator standpoint, people like to see kind of edgy things.”
Despite facing criticism, Smalls revealed that he managed to navigate through the hurricane safely, even though the experience was perilous. He mentioned that he would be willing to repeat the daring stunt “if the price is right.” In a later update during his live stream, Smalls clarified that someone else had ultimately won the $70,000 prize. The Tampa Police Department also issued a statement regarding residents who choose to ignore mandatory evacuation orders during hurricanes, highlighting the risks they pose not only to themselves but also to emergency responders working to save lives.
On the run-up to the hurricane, influencer Caroline Calloway used her platform to explain her decision not to evacuate her house in Florida. Despite the mandatory evacuation order for Zone A, Calloway stayed put, citing reasons like closed airports and past traumatic evacuation experiences during Hurricane Ian. Two days after Hurricane Milton struck, she confirmed her safety by posting a picture with her cat on Instagram.
Hurricane Milton has claimed at least 17 lives and caused widespread devastation in Florida, with the severity of the damage becoming evident post-storm. Making landfall as a Category 3 hurricane near Sarasota County’s Siesta Key on October 9, the hurricane triggered tornados, 28-foot waves, strong winds, heavy rainfall, and a destructive storm surge. All wind and storm surge warnings have been lifted after Milton exited Florida’s east coast, but hazards persist from damaged buildings, downed power lines, and floodwaters.