Social Media Stunt Raises Concerns: Influencer Hands Out Machetes and Alcohol to Homeless
In a controversial social media stunt that has drawn widespread criticism, a self-described influencer named Keith Castillo, who goes by “povwolfy” online, has been traveling across the country handing out machetes and alcohol to homeless individuals. His Thanksgiving Day video, which showed him distributing 18-inch Gordon-brand machetes to people living on the streets in Austin and New Orleans, garnered over 14 million views on TikTok and Instagram. The footage captures recipients enthusiastically accepting the blades, with one woman even asking for “one more.” Castillo’s video includes a caption reading “Keeping the homeless in the streets,” which many viewers interpreted as mockingly trivializing homelessness rather than offering genuine assistance.
The 29-year-old Corpus Christi native told reporters he purchased the stainless steel machetes in bulk from Harbor Freight for less than $5 each. In addition to the Thanksgiving video, Castillo posted earlier content showing him distributing unwrapped machetes alongside bottles of vodka to homeless people in New Orleans on November 22. Another video from November 20 shows him handing out what he called “big ass swords,” claiming his intention was to keep homeless people safe. This justification has been met with skepticism from viewers, with one Instagram commenter pointedly noting: “Keeping them safe [no], making them dangerous [yes].” Despite the backlash, Castillo seems undeterred, revealing that he was continuing his distribution in Little Rock, Arkansas, with “about 30 machetes” in his car at the time of the interview.
Castillo described his approach as a strategic “nationwide tour” that began in October, explaining, “I travel around, bulk record in one city and then for my safety go to another city, do the same thing there for like two weeks and kind of like travel around.” Having already targeted Austin, New Orleans, and Little Rock, he expressed plans to expand his controversial activities to more populated urban centers. “I have plans to go to Vegas, Skid Row [in L.A.] soon,” he stated, adding, “I should be in New York in January, I have a lot of friends out there. Go hand out a bunch of machetes and fireballs there, too.” The “fireballs” he referenced are small one-ounce bottles of high-proof cinnamon whisky, raising additional concerns about providing alcohol to a population often struggling with substance abuse issues.
When questioned about the ethics and legality of his actions, Castillo maintained a dismissive attitude. He claimed to have spoken with police who assured him he wasn’t breaking any laws by distributing the weapons. Regarding the moral implications of his stunt, Castillo insisted the machetes were meant as tools rather than weapons: “These are for, like, tool purposes. They have zero intent for what people are claiming they want to do with the [machetes].” Even more troubling was his cavalier response when pressed about the responsibility of providing alcohol to potentially vulnerable individuals with substance abuse problems. “Honestly I really don’t care bro, it’s good for the clicks and views, you know,” he admitted candidly. “Gotta do what we have to do so we eat.” This statement seems to confirm critics’ suspicions that the primary motivation behind the stunt is generating social media engagement rather than genuinely helping those experiencing homelessness.
Law enforcement and public safety experts have expressed serious concerns about Castillo’s activities and their potential consequences. While the NYPD declined to comment specifically on Castillo’s planned visit to New York, retired NYPD Sergeant and John Jay College of Criminal Justice professor Joseph Giacalone didn’t mince words: “That sounds like a cocktail for disaster — alcohol and machetes. Could we get any dumber?” Giacalone did acknowledge that “possession of a machete isn’t against the law,” highlighting the complex legal territory this stunt occupies. The combination of distributing both weapons and alcohol to individuals who may be dealing with mental health issues, substance abuse, or other challenges presents obvious public safety concerns, regardless of technical legality.
The commercial aspect of Castillo’s activism raises additional questions about motivation and ethics. Each video posted to his original “povwolfy” Instagram account contains lengthy advertisements for Stake, a betting company, suggesting potential financial incentives behind the controversial content. When contacted for comment, Stake did not respond, nor did the police departments of Austin, Little Rock, or New Orleans. The silence from these entities leaves many questions unanswered about the legality of Castillo’s activities across different jurisdictions and whether any oversight or intervention might be forthcoming. As Castillo continues his tour with plans to visit more cities, the incident highlights the troubling intersection of social media fame-seeking, exploitation of vulnerable populations, and the potential for real-world harm when online content creation prioritizes shock value and engagement metrics over social responsibility and human dignity.
