Messing up big time: YouTuber Alex Choi is no stranger to crazy stunts and over-the-top videos. The 24-year-old has racked up over a million followers on Instagram and YouTube by documenting his lavish lifestyle and outrageous antics. However, he may have taken things a step too far with his latest viral video, which landed him in hot water with the feds.
If you haven’t seen the video in question, here’s a quick recap: it’s an intense scene of a bright blue Lamborghini speeding across a desert landscape while a helicopter gives chase. Two women on board the helicopter fire a barrage of fireworks at the sports car. The Lamborghini whips around in circles, kicking up clouds of dust as it tries to evade the explosive onslaught, in a sequence that looks straight out of a big-budget action flick. All this was set to the thumping beat of Miley Cyrus’s “Party in the U.S.A.”
The video then cuts to a behind-the-scenes look at how Choi and his crew pulled off the stunt, as detailed by the Californian Attorney’s Office. During this portion, Choi allegedly references himself as the director of the shoot. He thanks a camera company for “being a part of my crazy, stupid ideas.” Choi also allegedly says in the video that the group “[expletive] up” at one point “because I forgot to tell my friend how to use a torch.” Finally, when someone asks if they will film again, Choi declines, saying, “We’re out of fireworks, right?”
The clip is exactly the kind of over-the-top content that Choi’s fans have come to expect from the content creator known for his extravagant spending and insane stunts. Except in this case, Choi may have gone too far.
According to federal prosecutors, the stunt was illegally filmed last June at El Mirage Dry Lake, which is federal land in San Bernardino County that requires permits for such activities. Not only that, but the fireworks used in the video were apparently purchased in Nevada because they are illegal in California.
Now, the YouTube star is facing federal charges of causing the unsafe placement of an explosive or incendiary device on an aircraft. After turning himself in last week, Choi was released on $50,000 bond but could be looking at up to 10 years in prison if convicted. An arraignment is scheduled for July 2.
Regardless of where you stand on the issue, one thing is clear: YouTube, once a home for cat videos and harmless pranks, has evolved into a massive industry where some creators will stop at nothing to secure fame and fortune.
