A YouTube video showing a man pouring gasoline on himself preparing to self-immolate, meant to be a social experiment, went viral across social media platforms. The only person who tried to prevent French YouTuber Dimerci from hurting himself was Mendel Narboni, an Orthodox Jew from Paris, who can be seen intervening to stop the man, thinking the suicide attempt was real.
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Narboni, 18, who is himself a content creator in Paris and is currently visiting Tel Aviv, told Ynetnews that he was on the scene at the Chatelet public square in Paris filming a video for his own channel when he saw a man whom he didn’t recognize, prepare to light himself on fire.
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Mendel Narboni, 18, didn't know he was part of a social experiment when he tried to stop YouTuber Dimerci from setting himself on fire
(Screenshot)
“At first I thought it was just water … afterward I saw his face so I understood that he is depressed. He took out the lighter and I said to myself, no it’s not possible that before my eyes I see a person setting himself on fire. It’s just not possible. So, I came and I took the lighter and I sat with him," Narboni told Ynetnews.
"I spoke with him and said no this isn’t the right thing to do, I can help you, and then afterward he showed me that it was a prank,” he also said.
Dimerci has over 2 million followers on YouTube. The video was posted on Saturday, but later removed by YouTube since it shows a potential suicide.
Narboni says that the area where the video was filmed is a popular location for influencers and content creators so it’s not surprising that multiple creators were in the area at the same time.
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Mendel Narboni, 18, was the only person who tried to prevent the man from lighting himself on fire
(Photo: Courtesy)
The video went viral across social media and has garnered millions of views. Narboni said that so far the feedback has been extremely positive from all over the world.
First published: 16:33, 07.10.23