A “prank” that landed in court.
In Spain, YouTuber Kanghua Ren, known online as ReSet, posted a video in which he gave a homeless man Oreo cookies filled with toothpaste and recorded his reaction. The clip quickly drew widespread criticism, with many calling it humiliating and accusing Ren of exploiting someone in a vulnerable situation.
Court documents revealed that the man later experienced stomach pain and vomiting. Prosecutors argued that Ren had profited from the video, turning what he claimed was a joke into monetized content.
A Spanish court ruled against him. Ren received a 15-month prison sentence, was ordered to pay €20,000 in compensation, banned from using social media for several years, and required to remove the video.
The case sparked global conversation about online “pranks,” raising questions about accountability and where entertainment crosses the line into abuse.
At what point does content stop being a joke and start causing real harm?
