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20-year-old social media star Jack Doherty found himself in the middle of controversy after crashing his $200,000 McLaren 570S during a livestream on the Kick platform. The incident, which occurred on October 5th, was recorded by his cameraman, Michael, who was seated in the passenger seat at the time of the crash. The livestream, which has since been removed from Kick, quickly went viral after being reposted on the platform X (formerly Twitter).
The footage showed the harrowing moments leading up to the crash. Doherty could be heard frantically screaming "No, no, no!" as he struggled to maintain control of the high-powered sports car before the stream abruptly cut to black. The camera then captured the aftermath, where Michael was shown with blood streaming down his face as they surveyed the wreckage. The entire front of Doherty's custom McLaren was destroyed after colliding with a metal highway barrier.
In a shocking twist, instead of prioritizing his injured friend, Doherty urged Michael to film the crash's aftermath. In the viral footage posted on X, Doherty was seen kicking the window of his car and screaming for help from bystanders. As bystanders assisted the pair, Doherty asked one of them to hold the camera, documenting the chaotic scene further. The video also showed a subsequent clip from the hospital where Michael received stitches for his injuries.
The online reaction to the video was swift and unforgiving. Many social media users criticized Doherty for focusing on filming and content creation instead of immediately tending to his injured cameraman. The backlash grew as viewers condemned his prioritization of content over safety.
Kick, the platform on which Doherty originally livestreamed the accident, quickly responded by removing the video and banning his profile. In a statement, Kick clarified that they do not condone illegal activities or dangerous stunts. Doherty's actions during and after the crash have reignited debates around the boundaries of social media content creation and the sometimes reckless behavior exhibited by influencers in the pursuit of views.
Doherty, who has a massive following of 15 million subscribers on YouTube, is no stranger to controversy. In June 2023, he documented his purchase of the McLaren for over $200,000. However, this isn't the first time he's been in the spotlight for dangerous behavior. In November 2022, he posted a video of himself flipping a golf cart while driving with his girlfriend, and in March 2023, he flipped an off-road vehicle, injuring his arm.
As the criticism mounts, many are questioning whether social media influencers like Doherty are willing to go too far for the sake of viral content—and whether platforms should enforce stricter regulations on livestreamed content that encourages dangerous behavior.
