On Sunday, September 13th, IShowSpeed, a global Youtube star recently named the most influential social media influencer by Rolling Stone magazine, was allegedly banned from the Houston Galleria. IShowSpeed boasts over 44 million YouTube subscribers, and was able to capture this chaotic run-in with mall security on his livestream.
IShowSpeed, born Darren Watkins Jr, was broadcasting at the Galleria, as part of his broadcasting segment called “Speed Does America,” when the incident erupted. Speed was spending time in a shoe store at the Galleria when Houston Police officers and mall security entered the store and told Speed to leave the Galleria, even as fans screamed in support of Speed outside of the store.
On the livestream, a worker can be heard saying, “You’re not allowed to come back to the mall ever, per management.”
IShowSpeed’s response reflects his consistent humor with his livestream audience as he stated: “Chat, guess I’m banned from Houston mall, y’all.”
Following this interaction, Speed was escorted by security out of the mall, with his livestream continuing to run. Additionally, Speed asserted that he was banned from the mall for ice skating. His livestream supported this statement. Speed had streamed himself walking on the mall’s ice skating rink prior to his banning.
“I got banned from the mall, y’all, cause I went ice skating,” Speed informed his adoring viewers.
A crowd of Speed’s supporters rushed towards him as he left the Galleria, smartphones glued to their hands. Speed’s stream showed him exiting the Galleria with security guards and fans flanking him. His livestream chat was buzzing with commentary about the event.
“GIVE THEM BAD REVIEWS,” one comment emphasized. “L GALLERIA MALL,” exclaimed another viewer.
After leaving the mall, Speed and his livestream traveled to the Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park, where Speed deliberated with his viewers about whether or not he should walk across the park’s structure. He decided to backflip onto a platform, where he missed his landing but stayed balanced enough to remain without injury.
He then took his livestream to see some slabs, bright colored cars with chrome wheels, a marker of Houston’s African-American community. He was joined by Paul Wall, a rapper and DJ in Houston.
IShowSpeed’s “Speed Does America” series takes Speed and his viewers across the country for 35 days of 24-hour livestreams. The night before Speed went to Houston, he attended an LSU vs Florida college football game.
Source: Chron
