Vitaly unbanned on Kick after streamer leaves the Philippines
Authorities in the Philippines has finally deported Vitaly “Vitaly” Zdorovetskiy back to Russia, and Kick has now unbanned the infamous streamer’s channel.
Vitaly is one of the best-known and most controversial IRL streamers on Kick, as he was constantly in the headlines for his over-the-top public pranks and their consequences. The streamer has faced both real-life legal troubles and suspensions on Kick for his antics, and his last controversy led him in detention in the Philippines.
But Vitaly has now finally been sent back to his home country of Russia months after he was first detained, and the livestreaming platform Kick has responded by reinstating his channel.
Why was Vitaly detained in the Philippines?
Vitaly was detained following multiple allegations of harassment while filming pranks in the Philippines, and the streamer was also banned from Kick following the incidents.
Multiple videos of Vitaly seemingly harassing local residents and security guards went viral before authorities in the Philippine took action. The streamer accosted a security guard by slapping his hat off of his head, and reportedly stole an industrial fan from a restaurant. But what local authorities seemed to find most jarring was how the streamer put all his actions on video.
Of course, none of this was a surprise to Vitaly’s many fans online, who are familiar with the streamer’s style of prank content. But for the uninitiated, it was quite the disruption, and not one that was received warmly.
Image credit: Vitaly
This wasn’t the first time Vitaly had found himself in such trouble, as he was taken into custody in Egypt after trying to climb the Pyramids of Giza. He was also detained in Miami for after an incident involving a jogger. Vitaly’s actions fit a pattern, but his experience in the Philippines was the that led to more serious consequences for the streamer, as he was eventually detained for over nine months.
Vitaly gained his fame in large part for just this sort of IRL content, and even had a “disturbing the peace” series in which he would deliberately provoke strangers and while streaming the encounters live.
None of this is the first time an IRL streamer’s conduct has led to legal issues, but it’s certainly one of the more notable examples.
Vitaly unbanned on Kick, speaks of new documentary
Kick unbanned Vitaly shortly after the streamer announced his intentions of releasing a documentary highlighting the time he spent behind bars in the Philippines.
Vitaly shared multiple pictures on his Instagram of his bunk, the facilities, and even shots of his meals. The streamer also issued a statement about the ordeal, revealing that he spent 91 days out of his 290-day detention in solitary confinement. He claimed that authorities “really tried to break [him], but it built [him],” and shared that he would be documenting everything he had experienced.
Vitaly’s Kick channel was reinstated soon after he talked about plans to post about his journey, and this may mark the start of a new form of content for Vitaly in the streaming world.
Vitaly was one of the most viral IRL content creators on Kick , but the streamer also faced significant criticism for his sometimes provocative actions. It remains to be seen what lessons he has or hasn’t taken from his experience in the Philippines and whether he’ll continue to push boundaries to create the sort of content many of his fans expect. Either way, with Vitaly now unbanned on Kick, his fans likely won’t have to wait long to find out.
Feature image credit: Vitaly
Khizar Mundia has been playing video games for as long as he can recall. Things have come a long way since the many days he spent playing the original NES, though. He now covers a variety of competitive games and esports, as well as the world of streaming, ranging from Twitch to Kick. If it’s of interest to gamers, it’s of interest to Khizar.
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