Controversial British streamer Sam Pepper has been permanently booted from streaming platform Kick after a shocking stunt during Diwali in New Delhi left an eight-year-old girl injured. The former Big Brother star, 36, fired fireworks directly into a crowd during a live broadcast on October 20, 2025, hitting the child near her eye.
The incident, viewed over two million times on social media, shows Pepper celebrating with a fist pump seconds after the firework struck the girl. Witnesses confronted the streamer, initially fearing the child had lost an eye. Pepper later confirmed she suffered a cut above her eyebrow that needed stitches.
Diwali Disaster Caught on Camera
Pepper was livestreaming the iconic Hindu festival’s fireworks in New Delhi’s bustling Chandni Chowk. Video footage reveals him eagerly firing Roman candle-type rockets at passersby before one hits the young girl in the face, sparking chaos.
“Oh my God!” Pepper exclaimed on camera, followed by a controversial fist pump he later called “stupid.”
Locals rushed to help the injured girl, quickly transporting her to hospital on a motorbike. Some witnesses shouted that she had lost an eye and demanded Pepper take responsibility.
Streamer Apologises but Downplays Injury
Five weeks after the stunt, Pepper tweeted an apology but disputed the injury’s severity.
“Was in India with a big group firing small firecrackers back and forth,” he admitted. “One of the group got hit by a cracker I shot and got a cut above their eyebrow.”
“They got a paper stitch and are now home. I feel terrible. Sorry to the girl I hurt.”
His apology sparked outrage online, with critics accusing him of trivialising the harm by calling it “just a cut” after earlier boasting of a “headshot.” Many slammed Pepper’s reckless behaviour as potentially blinding and disrespectful during a sacred festival.
Kick and Crypto Platform Pull the Plug
Kick, known for often lax moderation, moved swiftly to ban Pepper for violating safety guidelines. A spokesperson declared: “We take real-world harm seriously. Pepper’s actions endangered lives.”
The ban is permanent, blocking Pepper from creating new accounts to go around the restriction. Crypto app Pump.fun followed suit, banning him hours after the video spread.
Pepper’s livestreaming and crypto promotions were key income sources, making the bans a heavy financial blow. His 1.2 million-subscriber YouTube channel remains, but monetisation is reportedly being reviewed.
A History of Controversy
This isn’t Pepper’s first brush with scandal. Rising to fame with his 2014 “Kissing strangers” prank videos, he faced huge backlash over consent issues. He quit Big Brother UK in 2018 amid assault claims he denied. Social media users now launched #BanSamPepper, branding him a reckless tourist exploiting Indian culture.
On Reddit’s r/criticalthinkingindia, many called the stunt “child endangerment” and “Diwali disrespect.” One comment summed up the fury: “Reckless tourist exploits festival for views; girl could have died.”
Girl Recovering, No Charges Filed
The injured girl is reportedly recovering well at home. Indian police have classified the case as civil, meaning Pepper faces no criminal charges. Some critics are disappointed by the lack of legal action, arguing that firing fireworks at someone’s face warrants punishment.
Medical experts noted the girl was lucky to avoid permanent blindness. Pepper stated he “won’t be doing anything stupid like this again,” but his track record makes that promise suspect.
Platforms Draw the Line
The permanent bans from Kick and Pump. fun suggest a harsh new stance against content creators causing real-world harm. As scrutiny of online behaviour intensifies, Pepper’s saga may mark a turning point in holding influencers accountable for reckless acts in the chase for viral fame.
