When Viral “Kindness” Turns Dangerous, The Machete Giveaway That Shocked America

30 November 2025

In a disturbing social media stunt that spread rapidly across the internet, a self-styled influencer handed out 18-inch machetes and bottles of alcohol to homeless individuals claiming the gifts were meant to offer “protection” and “help.” The publicity-driven act has ignited widespread outrage, concern over safety and ethics, and renewed debate over the responsibilities of online content creators.

The man at the center of the uproar is 29-year-old Keith Castillo, who goes by the handle “povwolfy” on social media. In clips that have gone viral, he can be seen handing out stainless-steel machetes, still wrapped in packaging and small bottles of alcohol to homeless people on the streets of cities including Austin and New Orleans. One machete recipient in the footage accepts the blade with a casual “Hell yeah, man.”

Castillo described the gesture as a form of care for people living on the streets. He said he believed the machetes would empower them, framing the weapons as "tools" rather than instruments of harm. He explained that he bought the machetes in bulk from a discount retailer for under five dollars each.

He defended his actions in interviews, claiming to have spoken with law enforcement and been told the giveaways were not illegal. He expressed no remorse and said the primary motivation was gaining attention and building his online following, the weapons and alcohol, in his words, were “content.”

But the backlash was swift and heated. Safety experts, social workers, and members of the public condemned the stunt as reckless, irresponsible, and exploitative. Critics described the combination of alcohol and weapons especially distributed to vulnerable people in precarious situations as a "cocktail for disaster." Some questioning cast serious doubt on Castillo’s motive and ultimately characterized the act as an abuse of power and privilege disguised as generosity.

Authorities have remained largely silent. Local police departments and the major municipal police forces in the cities where the machetes were handed out have not issued formal public statements. Nevertheless, retired law enforcement officers and legal analysts warned that while owning a machete may not be illegal in many places, handing them out to strangers especially alongside alcohol could have serious legal and moral consequences. The lack of protections for the homeless and the potential for misuse or violence triggered fear among activists and citizens alike.

In addition to the machetes, some of Castillo’s videos included advertising for a betting company, a detail that has prompted questions about the sincerity of the stunt. It appears that the giveaways may not have been about altruism at all but about clicks, views, and monetization.

Castillo reportedly plans to continue the controversial campaign in other major cities, with destinations like Las Vegas, Los Angeles’s Skid Row and New York City reportedly on his 2026 itinerary. The announcement has stirred concern among homeless-advocacy groups and local authorities who worry about the risks that such stunts pose to public safety and to the dignity of people already living in precarious conditions.

For many observers, the episode underscores how social media influence — when unchecked — can devolve into dangerous spectacle. Turning grief, poverty, or vulnerability into content for likes, shares, and ad revenue raises ethical red flags. In the rush for virality, fundamental truths about humanity, empathy, and responsibility can get lost.

The machete-giveaway stunt serves as a harsh reminder that acts framed as “help” can sometimes mask exploitation under the veneer of goodwill. For the homeless individuals involved, what was offered as a gift may be nothing more than a dangerous burden. For society at large, it raises urgent questions: Are vulnerable people safe from exploitation in the digital age, and what duty do influencers hold when their content directly involves real lives?