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Sam Pepper
Pepper in June 2014
Born
Samuel Nicholas Pepper

(1989-03-26) 26 March 1989 (age 35)
Ashford, Kent, England
Occupation(s)Livestreamer, TikToker
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2010–present
Subscribers2.29 million[1]
Total views294,728,796[1]
100,000 subscribers2012
1,000,000 subscribers2013
TikTok information
Page
Followers4.6 million[2]
Likes124.2 million[2]
Kick information
Channel
Years active2023–present
Followers65.6 thousand[3]
Last updated: 15 April 2024

Samuel Nicholas Pepper (born 26 March 1989) is an English internet personality and reality TV contestant. Pepper appeared as a contestant on the 11th season of Big Brother in 2010. Later that same year, he started a YouTube channel, where he initially posted extreme pranks. These pranks often received backlash for featuring assault and cruelty. In 2016 Pepper shifted to vlogging and then again in 2019 shifted to comedy videos, starting a TikTok channel in 2020. In 2021, Pepper worked with FaZe Clan to promote the Save the Kids token pump-and-dump scheme as an independent contractor. Pepper also began streaming from Kick in 2023.

Early life

Samuel Pepper[4] was born on 26 March 1989[5][6] in Ashford, Kent.[7] He is half Greek.[8][9] He attended Pent Valley Technology College in Cheriton, Kent.[10][11]

Career

Big Brother 11 and early media career (2010–2014)

In 2010, Pepper took part in the 11th season of the British reality television series Big Brother as a housemate, entering the house on day 52 as Laura's replacement as part of the "Ignore the Obvious" task.[4] He was evicted on day 73 with 14.6% of the public vote.[12]

On 8 September 2010, Pepper created his YouTube channel and began uploading videos, mainly consisting of pranks,[13] voicing himself in Element Animation's The Crack! in 2011.[14] From late-2013 to mid-2014, Pepper, alongside friend and fellow YouTube personality Marius "Maz" Listhrop, began his worldwide comedy tour, "WDGAF Tour".[15][16]

Growth and controversy (2014–2015)

"Fake Hand Ass Pinch Prank"

In September 2014, Pepper uploaded a controversial video titled "Fake Hand Ass Pinch Prank". In the video, Pepper would go up to women and ask for directions before pinching their buttocks.[17][18] Soon after the video was published, many people online claimed to have been sexually harassed by Pepper in the video, which soon gained mainstream media attention.[19][20][21][22] Subsequently, the hashtag #ReportSamPepper trended on Twitter, along with many people criticising Pepper's actions.[23][24] Pepper released another video a few days later where women would go behind men and pinch their buttocks. On the same day, he published another video claiming that his first prank was a "social experiment" and that the video was "staged and scripted" with actors, the online claims of "participants" having been fake. He went on to say that bringing attention to the issue of sexual harassment was "the focal point of the experiment", with the harassment claims online untrue jokes.[25][17] Pepper removed both of these videos from YouTube shortly after their releases.[26][23] Rival video blogger Laci Green consequently published a video called "Sam Pepper Exposed", addressing the online harassment allegation campaign on Pepper. Green also wrote an open letter calling on Pepper to "stop violating women and making them uncomfortable on the street for views".[19] The letter received more than 100,000 signatures.[27]

Also shortly after the original video was published, multiple women came forward and accused Pepper of sexual misconduct, including soliciting nude photographs from a minor, inappropriate sexual contact, and rape.[28][29] No charges were filed, and Pepper was not arrested.

"Killing Best Friend Prank"

In November 2015, Pepper uploaded a video entitled "Killing Best Friend Prank". The video features internet personalities Sam Golbach and Colby Brock. In the video, a masked Pepper kidnaps Golbach and Brock (both of whom were in actuality in on the prank alongside Pepper), who are parked at an unknown location, shoving Golbach into the trunk of the car with a bag over his head. Brock helps Pepper tie up Golbach and take him to a rooftop, where he is forced to watch Pepper "shoot" Brock, leaving Golbach in tears. The video caused a backlash on social media, also hitting media headlines.[30][31][32][33] British newspaper Metro compared the video to an "ISIS-style execution".[34] A subsequent online petition to have Pepper removed from YouTube gained over 100,000 signatures.[32][35] In an interview with Metro, Pepper stated that the criticism towards the video and himself was "shocking". In the same interview, Golbach stated that the message of the video was "about living life to the full... not taking life for granted and loving it because it's short".[36] In response to the ongoing criticism, Pepper started a GoFundMe campaign, stating that he would delete his YouTube channel if $1.5 million was pledged to him.[37] The campaign was removed shortly afterwards, along with the accompanying video that was posted on his YouTube channel.[38]

Apology and rebranding (2016–2021)

On 21 February 2016, Pepper made all of his YouTube videos private and deleted all of his tweets, save for one stating "I give up".[39][40][41] He uploaded a 20-minute video on 24 February titled "i'm sorry". In the video, Pepper confessed that many of his pranks, including his controversial "Killing Best Friend Prank", were staged. He also denied all online allegations of harassment towards him, attributed to a trolling campaign. He apologised for his videos, calling himself an "idiot" and stated that he would continue uploading on YouTube and "make content that I really believe in".[42][43][44][45] After the video was published, Pepper stopped uploading prank videos and began uploading vlogs, subsequently receiving a more positive response.[45][46]

In 2018, Pepper stopped uploading on his main channel and rebranded to his "Sam Pepper Live" channel, where he began vlogging and frequently live streaming alongside fellow live streamer Ice Poseidon.[47] The following year, Pepper rebranded once again and became inactive on YouTube, subsequently shifting to TikTok. He mainly posts short comedy videos consisting of "challenge videos, life–hacks, and stunts"; the Metro described his presence on the platform as a "fully-fledged comeback".[47][48]

Save the Kids scandal

Beginning in 2021, Pepper worked as an independent contractor at the esports and entertainment company FaZe Clan, consulting on "YouTube channel strategy" with some of the company's founders. According to two former employees, he tried to broker brand deals with Apple Inc.[49] He was living and frequently collaborating with former FaZe Clan member Frazier Khattri (FaZe Kay), and was accused by Khattri and YouTube investigator Coffeezilla of ordering a developer on the cryptocurrency Save the Kids token to change a mechanism within the currency, which after its change, would allow for the cryptocurrency to be used as a pump and dump scheme. Both Khattri and Pepper have denied substantial involvement in the Save the Kids scandal, though Khattri has come out against Pepper claiming that Pepper's "plan" was to make US$1,000,000 from the token and vanish forever. Pepper has yet to comment specifically on the allegations made by Khattri, who has further vowed never to work or be associated with Pepper ever again. Coffeezilla, however, alleged that Khattri was, contrary to Khattri's claims, significantly involved in Save the Kids from the start.

Immediately subsequent to Khattri's comments, some users on Twitter nicknamed Pepper "Scam Pepper", though Pepper was known to swiftly block anyone who used the nickname.[50][51] No longer involved with FaZe Clan, he said he was paid by a FaZe member to help with his videos and was subsequently "dragged in to all the drama and later thrown under bus."[49]

Return to livestreaming (2022–present)

After the Save the Kids drama Sam returned to livestreaming on Kick, livestreaming his travels across various countries such as Thailand and Indonesia. Reconnecting with his streaming friend Ice Poseidon, the pair did a string of travel themed streams together across India, Thailand, South Korea and Australia.[3]

Arrest and release

On September 21, 2023, during a stream in Queensland, Australia Pepper and frequent stream collaborator Ice Poseidon invited an escort for $500 to enter his hotel room, with the intent of streaming the escort interacting with another local streamer as part of a prank.[52] They agreed on an extra fee to record the interaction and the camera livestreaming was pointed out to the escort immediately as she entered the room.[53] Ed Craven, founder and owner of the streaming platform Kick was active in the stream chat whilst this was unfolding, sending laughing emotes.[52][53][54] After being made aware of the whole situation via text message from a friend, the woman attempted to leave the hotel room before being temporarily blocked by the third streamer who chased after her.[53]

Later, Pepper and Ice Poseidon exited the hotel where police officers apprehended the pair, placing them under temporary arrest for sexual assault. They were later released without charges.[53]

References

  1. ^ a b "About OFFICIALsampepper". YouTube.
  2. ^ a b "Sam - TikTok". TikTok. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Sam - Kick Channel". Kick. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Samuel Pepper, John James Parton ('Big Brother 11')". digitalspy.com. 21 August 2010. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  5. ^ "Sam Pepper on Twitter – "my birthday is the 25th of march"". Twitter. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  6. ^ "Sam Pepper on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  7. ^ "NEW HOUSEMATE REVEALED: It's Sam! - Big Brother - Channel4.com - New housemate, sam, housemate entry, eviction". 22 August 2010. Archived from the original on 22 August 2010. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  8. ^ "Draw My Life". YouTube. 8 January 2013. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  9. ^ "Greek descent". Twitter. 8 October 2010. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  10. ^ "Former Ashford student Sam Pepper evicted from Big Brother house". 23 August 2010. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  11. ^ "Evicted: Sam Pepper left the Big Brother house on Friday". Retrieved 10 March 2016.[permanent dead link‍]
  12. ^ "Big Brother 2010: Corin, Sam and John James follow Steve out of house". metro.co.uk. 20 August 2010. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  13. ^ "Sam – About". youtube.com.
  14. ^ Element Animation (24 December 2011). The Crack! – CHRISTMAS (feat. Sam Pepper). Element Animation. Retrieved 15 January 2023 – via YouTube.
  15. ^ Campbell, Tina (21 April 2014). "Sam Pepper: Meet the internet music and comedy sensation soon set to tour the UK". metro.co.uk. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  16. ^ "UK YouTube Stars To Launch Comedy Show at Avalon Sept. 13". Huffington Post. 26 August 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  17. ^ a b "Sam Pepper says his bum pinching video was a 'staged experiment'". BBC News. 23 September 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  18. ^ "YouTube Star Sam Pepper Attempts To 'Prank' Women By Grabbing Their Butts". Huffington Post. 22 September 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2016.[permanent dead link‍]
  19. ^ a b Hernandez, Brian (25 September 2014). "YouTuber Sam Pepper Hit With Sexual-Harassment Claims After 'Ass Pinch' Prank". Mashable. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  20. ^ Jaworski, Michelle (3 October 2014). "More women are coming forward to accuse Sam Pepper of rape". The Daily Dot. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  21. ^ "Sam Pepper investigated by LA police in July". BBC News. 2 October 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  22. ^ "Has Sam Pepper been accused of rape?". metro.co.uk. 28 September 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  23. ^ a b "YouTube star Sam Pepper denies butt-grabbing "prank" is sexual harassment". CBC News. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  24. ^ "YouTube co-star Mazzi Maz: Sam Pepper 'has gone too far'". BBC News. 22 September 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  25. ^ Sherwin, Adam. "YouTube star Sam Pepper faces assault claims". The Independent. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  26. ^ "Big Brother's Sam Pepper has had offensive bum pinch video removed from YouTube". metro.co.uk. 22 September 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  27. ^ "YouTube star Sam Pepper faces sexual harassment claims". BBC News. October 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  28. ^ Hall, Ryan Broderick, Ellie (27 September 2014). "Woman Accuses YouTube Star Sam Pepper Of Rape". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved 22 December 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  29. ^ Hall, Ryan Broderick, Ellie (3 October 2014). "18-Year-Old Woman Tells Police She Was Raped By YouTube Celebrity Sam Pepper". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved 28 December 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  30. ^ "YouTube won't be removing 'cruel' Sam Pepper 'killing prank' video". BBC News. 30 November 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  31. ^ Coggan, Devan. "Digital stars call for YouTube to delete Sam Pepper's channel after prank video backlash". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  32. ^ a b "Over 100,000 people want YouTube to ban Sam Pepper for staging a prank murder". Washington Post. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  33. ^ "Sam Pepper heavily criticised for 'vile' fake murder prank video". The Independent. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  34. ^ McAteer, Ollie (30 November 2015). "The line has officially been crossed with 'killing best friend prank'". metro.co.uk. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  35. ^ "More than 200,000 people want YouTube to ban prankster Sam Pepper for staging an intense murder". National Post. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  36. ^ "YouTubers behind 'killing best friend prank' say they're shocked at all the hate". metro.co.uk. 30 November 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  37. ^ Cullen, Clare (12 December 2015). "Controversial YouTuber Sam Pepper pledges to delete YouTube channel – for $1.5M in donations". Independent.ie. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  38. ^ Baker, Gavia (13 December 2015). "Sam Pepper's $1.5 million crowdfunding stunt to delete his YouTube channel didn't last long". The Daily Dot. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  39. ^ Lindsay, Duncan (21 February 2016). "'I give up': Controversial YouTube prankster Sam Pepper deletes all of his videos and tweets". metro.co.uk. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  40. ^ "Sam Pepper deletes social media content and posts message, I Give Up". BBC News. 22 February 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  41. ^ Payton, Matt. "Sam Pepper quits Twitter, makes his YouTube content private". The Independent. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  42. ^ "YouTuber Sam Pepper says he faked his videos and apologises". BBC News. 25 February 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  43. ^ Lindsay, Duncan (28 February 2016). "YouTube star Sam Pepper breaks his silence with apology video in which he addresses sexual assault claims". metro.co.uk. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  44. ^ Saul, Heather. "Sam Pepper: YouTuber claims his entire online persona is fake in video after deleting everything bar one tweet". The Independent. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  45. ^ a b "'Idiot' prankster Sam Pepper confesses he faked his YouTube videos". Mashable. 25 February 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  46. ^ "Looks Like Sam Pepper Has Some Bad News For Us". unilad.co.uk. Archived from the original on 16 April 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  47. ^ a b "How disgraced YouTuber Sam Pepper became a viral TikTok star: From Big Brother and distressing pranks to a fully-fledged comeback". Metro. 14 January 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  48. ^ "Who Is TikTok Star Sam Pepper? From YouTube Outcast to Viral Sensation". HITC.com. 23 January 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  49. ^ a b D'Anastasio, Cecilia (13 September 2023). "From $1 Billion to Almost Worthless: FaZe Clan Runs Out of Hype". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  50. ^ "Kay Pins SaveTheKids Scandal on Sam Pepper in Statement". Esports Talk. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  51. ^ Sacco, Dom (14 August 2021). "Frazier Kay finally breaks silence over Save the Kids scandal, says he will pay as many people back as possible and that Sam Pepper screwed him over". esports-news.co.uk. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  52. ^ a b Sung, Morgan (30 September 2023). "Kick streamers consider leaving over CEO's comments in a sex worker 'prank' stream". TechCrunch. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  53. ^ a b c d "Police say they arrested and un-arrested livestreamers who broadcast a sex worker they hired". NBCNews. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  54. ^ "Rich Lister accused of encouraging 'incredibly inappropriate' behaviour". Australian Financial Review. 12 October 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
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