Topics: Twitch, Black Mirror, US News, Money, Viral, Mental Health, Social Media, Technology
A streamer has sparked controversy after letting subscribers 'Chinese water torture' him for money.
The American Twitch streamer, who goes by the name IZIDORE, went viral on April 14 for allowing viewers to remotely torture him in a stunt that many are saying looks like something directly out of the dystopian sci-fi series, Black Mirror.
The content creator who boasts almost 40,000 followers allowed people to 'drip drown' him in Chinese 'water torture' style, and to this end set up a device that dropped water on him when viewers bought Bits, a virtual currency on the platform, or subscriptions.
Chinese water torture was an ancient interrogation method that came from Asia, according to The New York Times.
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The cruel technique involves the slow dripping of water onto a victims' forehead over lengthy periods of time until the anxiety and mental anguish of the droplets drove them 'mad.'
It is deemed a mentally painful process and one of the most insidious forms of punishment.
Yet that didn't stop IZIDORE from taking on the twisted challenge to the glee of almost half a million that tuned in to watch the streamer question his sanity.
He offered viewers the chance to purchase Bits that would prompt his device to drop water onto his face, from one drop to 20 to one big 'mega drop.'
The agonizing feat saw IZIDORE drenched in varying levels of water on his face throughout the 16-hour livestream.
When a viewer asked him why he was doing it, he replied: "Rent is due."
Dozens of viewers have taken to social media to slam the disturbing footage - and the fact the streamer did it in the first place.
"Chinese torture methods for fame and money is CRAZY," one said on Twitter.
Others said it reminded them of the first episode of the new series of Black Mirror, 'Common People,' where a man desperate for money to pay his wife's medical bills turns to a site called DumDummies to broadcast humiliating stunts in real-time in exchange for cash.
The stunts become more extreme as he has to rely on the stunt to keep his wife alive.
"I just finished that episode 20 minutes ago and this reminded [me] of it too!" another wrote.
"Streamers using Black Mirror for ideas," a third chimed.
Dozens of others said they considered the move a 'sad' reflection of the technological world and reality we live in.
"This is why 'content creation' feels more like self-destruction with a ring light lately," a fourth wrote.
Yet, according to IZIDORE, the streamer said he didn't feel 'tortured' by the stunt.
Commenting at the end of the stream, he said: "That was so fun, chat. The outcome was way better than expected.”
It's also not the first time he's taken on a bizarre, if not dangerous, exploit for views on the internet, from eating 100 chicken nuggets, locking himself in a cage for an entire day and letting viewers 'flashbang' him from inside his closet.
In another broadcast, he also tried to build a house of cards - which was repeatedly rumbled when viewers donated to the stream.
Still, best not to try this one at home...
