"People who are old enough to legally buy alcohol may not be familiar with 20-year-old YouTube star IShowSpeed, who started as a gaming streamer, then rode a few online stunts, sexist outbursts, and crypto scams into a 44.5 million subscriber audience. IShowSpeed hit the Bay Area Thursday as KPIX reports, as part of his national tour that kicked off August 28, and came through San Francisco and Oakland yesterday."
"One of Speed's first stops was SF City Hall where he was welcomed by Mayor Daniel Lurie, and Lurie's trademark attempt at sounding enthusiastic and genuine. Though this is maybe smart politics by Lurie. While Lurie has been burned by associations with social media crusaders whose reputations went south, the outreach to young viral internet stars is something the Democratic party could maybe use more of."
"The day was not without its low moments. IShowSpeed was sort of a Pied Piper and drew thousands of fans following him around all day. But the above incident is just one case, over the course of his visits through Union Square, the Tenderloin, and Fisherman's Wharf, where his security shoved people around, despite not particularly aggressive behavior by the fans."
IShowSpeed, a 20-year-old YouTube star with 44.5 million subscribers, drew Beatlemania-level excitement during a Bay Area stop on his national tour. He livestreamed continuous footage and posted nearly 12-hour videos of his San Francisco and Oakland visits. Mayor Daniel Lurie, the SFPD, and the San Francisco Fire Department officially welcomed him. Thousands of fans followed him through Union Square, the Tenderloin, and Fisherman's Wharf, creating crowd-control challenges. Security personnel shoved some fans despite largely non-aggressive behavior. The visits mixed choreographed goodwill gestures with chaotic moments that raised public-safety and reputational concerns for the city.
Read at sfist.com
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