Influencers filmed posing in ambulance as paramedics try to load patient, drawing online criticism
A video shared on Reddit and TikTok appears to show two influencers in California photographing each other in an ambulance while paramedics tried to load a patient. A bystander moved them aside, and viewers criticised the pair.
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The story, neutrally told
A video that circulated on Reddit and TikTok appears to show two influencers taking photos in and around an ambulance while paramedics were trying to treat and load a patient. Daily MirrorL “video footage appearing to show a man and woman take snaps before being ushered away by another member of the public to allow the patient to board the vehicle” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ New York PostR “The clip, which has blown up on TikTok and Reddit” Read at New York Post ↗ The Daily Mirror places the incident in West Hollywood, California; the New York Post says only that the influencers are from California. Daily MirrorL “The incident occurred in West Hollywood, California” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ New York PostR “California influencers are being ridiculed online” Read at New York Post ↗ The man is seen posing on the gurney with a cigarette while a woman takes photos. Daily MirrorL “The male influencer could be seen posing on a stretcher in the back of the ambulance while smoking a cigarette as his friend took photos.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ New York PostR “shows a man in a white outfit seemingly posing on the emergency vehicle’s gurney with a cigarette in his mouth as his female accomplice snaps photos” Read at New York Post ↗
A stranger physically moved the pair away, they appeared to protest, and the patient was then loaded into the ambulance. New York PostR “a stranger approaches the opportunists and physically pushes them away from the scene, seemingly prompting them to protest.” Read at New York Post ↗ Daily MirrorL “Paramedics could then be seen wheeling the patient into shot before the influencers seemingly took offence at the prospect of having to step aside.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Reddit users criticised the pair, with some saying the lit cigarette near the ambulance's compressed oxygen cylinders was a safety risk. The Mirror reports this point, while the Post does not. Daily MirrorL “others highlighted the health and safety risk of the man's cigarette being in close proximity to the ambulance's highly-flammable compressed oxygen cylinders” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ The TikTok creator @Daadi called it an example of "peak influencer dystopia", and some of his viewers doubted the footage was real. New York PostR “He called the stunt an example of “peak influencer dystopia,””““Surely this has to be fake,” wrote one.” Read at New York Post ↗
Both outlets add legal context. The Post cites California Penal Code section 148(a)(1), under which obstructing emergency workers is a misdemeanour carrying a $1,000 fine or up to a year in jail. The Mirror cites a 2020 US federal bill and the UK's Emergency Workers (Obstruction) Act 2006. New York PostR “the perpetrator could have to pay a $1,000 fine or spend up to a year in jail.” Read at New York Post ↗ Daily MirrorL “The Emergency Workers (Obstruction) Act 2006 is a UK Act of Parliament that makes it a specific criminal offence to obstruct or hinder emergency workers” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Neither outlet identifies the influencers or says whether any complaint or police action followed. The Post says the pair "allegedly" blocked the ambulance and describes the footage as showing them "seemingly" doing so. New York PostR “pair allegedly blocks ambulance for clicks” Read at New York Post ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- A weird-news item built around Reddit reaction, with legal background on US and UK obstruction laws.
- Emphasis
- Reddit commenters' outrage, the cigarette near oxygen cylinders, and the legal background.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the doubts some viewers raised about the clip's authenticity, or the TikTok commentary.
- Charged language
- “brainless ghouls”“ridiculous”
- For example
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“Two influencers have been labelled 'ridiculous' and 'brainless ghouls'” — Daily Mirror
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- A mocking lifestyle piece that treats the incident as a symbol of influencer culture, led by a TikTok critic's 'peak influencer dystopia' remark.
- Emphasis
- The TikToker @Daadi's commentary, California law and viewer scepticism about whether the clip is real.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the oxygen-cylinder safety risk or the UK and federal US legal context.
- Charged language
- “peak influencer dystopia”“cretins”“terminal stupidity”“opportunists”“dodo-brained”
- For example
-
“They should’ve treated them for terminal stupidity.” — New York Post
What every side reports
- The incident is on video, shared on Reddit (and, per the Post, TikTok).
- A man posed on the ambulance gurney with a cigarette while a woman took photos.
- A bystander moved the pair aside so the patient could be loaded.
- Online commenters criticised the influencers.
Where accounts differ
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Where and how firmly the incident is established
- Left
- The Mirror states it happened in West Hollywood and says the footage 'appearing to show' the incident.
- Right
- The Post says only California, uses 'allegedly' and 'seemingly', and notes some viewers think the clip may be fake.
Influencers topic
The influencers are portrayed critically by both outlets and online commenters. They are not quoted, and the coverage shows them only protesting when moved aside.
“seemingly prompting them to protest.” — New York Post
“"Nothing captures influencer culture quite like needing to be physically shooed away” — Daily Mirror
Left1 article
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Influencers branded 'ridiculous' as they block ambulance for impromptu photoshoot
Critical Reports the Reddit backlash and adds safety and legal context, with the headline quoting 'ridiculous'.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
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Critical Mocks the pair in its own voice and uses the incident to criticise influencer culture, while hedging with 'allegedly' and 'seemingly'.
- 1 Oct 10:51 First Daily MirrorL Influencers branded 'ridiculous' as they block ambulance for impromptu photoshoot
- 1 Oct 14:54 +4h 3m New York PostR Viral content culture reaches ‘peak influencer dystopia’ as pair allegedly blocks ambulance for clicks
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.