Canadian Streamer Slapped by Two Indian Men as Video Triggers Fierce Debate Over IRL Filming

A Canadian livestreamer was slapped by an Indian man during a confrontation at a 7-Eleven store in Vietnam after he allegedly continued filming two men despite repeated requests to stop.

The streamer, John Ly, who uses the name JohnWhatsGoingOn online, was livestreaming from Saigon when he began recording the two Indian men inside the convenience store. The men repeatedly objected to being filmed and asked him to move the camera away.

According to footage circulating online, Ly continued recording and used provocative language during the exchange. At one point, he told one of the men: 'This is not New Delhi.'

The man responded: 'You know where I am from. Keep the camera away.'

'You've been here all day, making content. You don't know [expletive],' the man said as Ly continued filming. He also questioned the streamer about privacy and asked him to put his camera away.

The confrontation then intensified when the second man intervened.

'You are f***ing racist,' he told Ly before pushing him.

Streamer Continued Filming as Argument Intensified

The two men repeatedly told Ly to leave the shop and stop recording them. Instead, the streamer continued to livestream the confrontation.

At one point, Ly told the men: 'I know where you work. I know your restaurant.'

The men continued saying, 'Keep the camera away,' as they pushed the streamer towards the exit.

Rather than ending the broadcast, Ly continued smiling and filming. One of the men then accused him of exploiting the confrontation for online content.

'You are monetising hate,' he said.

Moments later, another man approached Ly and slapped him. The streamer appeared to remain on camera and continued broadcasting as the confrontation carried on.

Ly then made another controversial remark, saying: 'No one likes Indians out here,' before appearing to leave the store.

The video subsequently spread across social media, attracting millions of views and prompting a wave of criticism and debate. Reports said the confrontation had allegedly followed a period in which Ly repeatedly filmed and provoked the men, although some details circulating online have not been independently verified.

Viral Clip Reignites Debate Over IRL Streaming

The incident has renewed discussion about the boundaries of so-called IRL, or 'in real life,' livestreaming, in which creators broadcast their activities and interactions in public spaces.

JohnWhatsGoingOn is an established Kick streamer who has been broadcasting IRL content from Vietnam. His recent streams have included footage from Saigon, with public tracking data showing an 11-hour-plus Vietnam stream on 1 October.

The confrontation has divided viewers. Some have criticised Ly for continuing to record people after they explicitly objected, while others have condemned the decision to respond with physical violence.

The episode also highlights the difficulties faced by livestreamers who record strangers in public. Although public filming rules vary between jurisdictions and circumstances, recording someone without consent can quickly lead to disputes over privacy, harassment and personal boundaries.

There has been no reported official statement from Vietnamese authorities about the incident. As the footage continues to circulate, the dispute remains primarily a social-media controversy, with viewers debating where the responsibilities of livestreamers end and personal boundaries begin.