Influencers slammed for giving homeless man rice packet filled with their leftover chicken bones

SHAH ALAM - A group of three male influencers is facing intense backlash after a video of them giving a homeless man a packet of rice filled with their leftover chicken bones went viral on social media.

The now-deleted clip, which has been widely circulated online, showed the trio enjoying fried chicken before stuffing the stripped bones into a packet of rice. They then handed the packet to a homeless man, who appeared visibly surprised upon opening it. Despite the shock, the man can be seen thanking them.

The act has been slammed as disrespectful and inhumane, with many calling it a cruel stunt done in the name of a so-called “social experiment” to gain views and attention.

Local rapper and activist Caprice reposted the video on his Instagram account, urging authorities to investigate and hold the influencers accountable.

"This is rude. Please take action,” he posted.

Meanwhile, Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung has also lodged a report to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), calling for an investigation into the matter.

“It is completely inappropriate to use the suffering of marginalised groups as entertainment in the name of charity.

“Creative content is not wrong, but it must align with ethics and empathy, especially when it involves vulnerable individuals who cannot defend themselves,” he said.

While one of the influencers defended their actions, claiming the incident was a misunderstood “social experiment” conducted with the homeless man’s consent, the explanation has done little to calm public outrage.

They also claimed to have provided the man with a proper meal of rice and two pieces of chicken in addition to the packet of bones, but netizens remained unconvinced.

“Regardless of whether it was just for content, serving chicken bones to a person, regardless of their status, is a form of humiliation that should not be tolerated in a civil society,” a social media user commented on the video.

Some netizens have begun searching for the homeless man to offer him real assistance, while others have expressed frustration over the lack of empathy displayed by the influencers.

Another social media user commenting on the matter said the incident has also reignited debates about values and upbringing, pointing out that such behaviour reflected a deeper gap in moral education.

“No wonder the government is making a law to punish parents if their kids end up uneducated. Prime example here,” he wrote.

Many have also called for content creators to take this incident as a lesson in ethical boundaries, urging them to prioritise dignity and respect when producing online material.

The MCMC has yet to release an official statement regarding possible action against the influencers.