A recent live stream by an influencer has ignited a heated controversy, leading to widespread outrage and condemnation. The incident involved social media personality Natalie Reynolds during a broadcast at Lady Bird Lake in Austin on Wednesday. Reynolds has come under fire for purportedly tempting a non-swimmer with $20 to leap into the lake as part of a treasure hunt activity.
The situation escalated when the individual struggled in the water, repeatedly asserting her inability to swim, while Reynolds and her crew reportedly departed from the location. There are reports of Reynolds urging the individual to “just jump in” shortly before the plunge, followed by a reaction of apparent shock when the individual jumped in headfirst.
During the incident, the individual in the water was heard saying, “You said it was fine… you encouraged me to jump in.” Although the influencer, known as the Kick streamer, denied this, her off-camera team admitted she had indeed instructed the person to jump. Following this, the streamer was escorted away from the dock, laughing along with others on the live stream. Meanwhile, the struggling individual, not visible on camera, stated she couldn’t swim and could only stay afloat.
This caused panic in Reynolds, as her companions warned the situation might be serious. The live stream then showed them leaving the scene and transitioning to footage of them driving away. A firetruck was seen heading towards the lake in the background, and the Austin Fire Department later confirmed they responded to a call at Lady Bird Lake to provide medical aid, rescuing someone from the water. The details of the medical assistance or the individual’s current condition were not disclosed.
On social media, there was significant backlash against Reynolds for encouraging the woman to jump and for leaving the scene. One person labeled her behavior as harmful to society, while another criticized the attention-seeking culture, suggesting that societal norms were once more beneficial when they included a sense of shame. A third individual condemned the actions as deplorable, noting the extremes people go to for online engagement, and expressed relief that the woman was rescued. A fourth commenter described the actions as abhorrent.
In response to the criticism, Reynolds appeared to defend herself by downplaying the negative remarks. She stated on social media that the woman had expressed a desire to swim and that they left the scene because they were instructed to stop filming. Reynolds added that the woman received the necessary assistance and is now fine, urging people to stop perpetuating the issue.
The media outlet UNILAD has reached out to both the Austin Fire Department and the Austin Police Department for further comments on the incident.