In recent years, online pranksters and “influencers” have surged in popularity across social media, but much of their content increasingly blurs the line between entertainment and exploitation, often crossing into territory many viewers see as tasteless or ethically questionable. Recently, a self-styled influencer in New York City drew attention after filming a video in which he went on a date with a man dressed in a Big Bird costume for his channel. While the video quickly went viral, a second clip is now gaining traction online, centering on what appears to be a disgruntled employee who took issue with the creator’s tasteless approach.
For context, the original Big Bird prank video is set inside a restaurant, where the two content creators are seen going on a date together. In the clip, “Big Bird” and the influencer are shown ordering food, staging an argument over a fake breakup, before the character begins loudly screaming and causing a scene. However, the incident in the second clip unfolds in the parking lot of the same restaurant where the original prank was filmed, showing what appears to be a disgruntled employee engaging in a expletive-filled altercation with the content creators at the center of the video.
The incident begins with the angry employee sitting in his black SUV, hurling insults at the man dressed as Big Bird. “You’re lucky I kept my [expletive] temper! I would have broke you in [expletive] half!” In an attempt to defend himself, the man dressed as Big Bird responds, “I was just… I’m just Big Bird.” This doesn’t placate the irate worker, who responds with, “I don’t give a [expletive]! With this crazy world that you got on right now, you got to scare somebody in a [expletive] restaurant? Grow the [expletive] up!” At the end of the clip, you can hear Big Bird say under his breath, “How did I scare you?“
Netizens’ Reactions to the Big Bird Prank
The video has sparked widespread criticism from all corners of the internet, with many siding with the irate employee at the heart of the incident. One well-known YouTuber, Penguinz0, labeled the prank “trash” in a lengthy video critiquing stunt-based content like this. One commenter on his video chipped in with, “One of the rare instances where I actually wished this was AI.”
Meanwhile, over on Reddit, one user wrote, “i assumed big bird was a nuisance streamer. and the comments proved me right. [expletive] big bird.” while another added, “I got $20 that says Big Bird was, in fact, being the [expletive].” Elsewhere, over on Instagram, one netizen penned, “I love how being a public nuisance is what passes for comedy in 2026” while another chimed in with, “Can someone explain how this is funny? I’m genuinely curious what the joke is?“
The incident highlights how modern influencer culture frequently prioritizes shock value and viral attention over common sense and respect for others. It serves as a reminder that not every moment captured online is harmless entertainment, and sometimes the consequences spill over into real life.
