Published on: October 6, 2025, 07:21h.

Updated on: October 5, 2025, 11:11h.

Popular YouTube star IShowSpeed recently experienced the SkyJump ride from the iconic Stratosphere Tower in Las Vegas. This exhilarating 829-foot freefall, which he streamed live on September 26, went smoothly. However, the following day, social media was ablaze with viral rumors alleging that his safety harness had malfunctioned during the jump.

Numerous TikTok users shared footage of IShowSpeed’s jump, claiming to capture a carabiner from his safety harness breaking away mid-flight, although luckily it wasn’t in a critical load position.

“IShowSpeed almost met his end last night when a piece of his bungee cord snapped mid-fall!” stated the TikTok account @dz1Sfylef0.

This incident followed closely on the heels of a true emergency when a young British tourist and his skydiving instructor narrowly escaped death after a tandem jump from 11,000 feet near Las Vegas.

While users scrutinized every frame of IShowSpeed’s video, none seemed to notice the part where he safely landed with the carabiner still attached. Or perhaps they did, but opted not to spoil an enticing clickbait story with the reality.

As it turns out, the perceived disconnection of the carabiner was merely an optical illusion due to pixelation issues.

Rushed Conclusions

Every day, social media is flooded with misleading claims, potentially outnumbering factual information. (Frankly, this is the reason behind this column’s inception.)

However, IShowSpeed (whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr.) contributed to the problem by endorsing a false narrative. During a livestream, he reacted to a video spreading misinformation about his jump.

“Dude, I almost died!” the 20-year-old from Cincinnati exclaimed. “The strap was loose, the hook was loose. What is going on?! I didn’t notice that! Wow!”

While it’s unclear how many of Watkins’ 44.5 million followers witnessed this dramatic moment, it’s evident why Rolling Stone named him “Most Influential Creator of 2025” in August.

Hours later, platforms like TikTok, YouTube, X (previously Twitter), and Reddit buzzed with posts claiming that Speed had narrowly escaped a fatal incident, resulting in millions of views.

It seems that Watkins didn’t aim to spread potentially harmful misinformation; instead, he may have unknowingly believed the TikTok claims to be accurate. Regardless, the Strat’s reputation experienced unwarranted damage from these rumors.

Strat Responds

The Strat issued an official statement clarifying that the carabiner in question neither broke nor detached. They also noted that, even if it had, it was not a primary safety mechanism. The SkyJump incorporates several safety features, including guide wires and a magnetic braking system.

Throughout its 16+ years of service, the attraction has seen over 400,000 successful jumps without a single incident.

“We are currently in talks with IShowSpeed’s team regarding the best approach to resolve this issue,” concluded the Strat’s statement, hinting at potential legal action that may have led Watkins to remove both his original jump video and his response to the TikTok misinformation.

This isn’t the first instance in which the Strat has found itself defending against unfounded claims regarding safety. In fact, it’s not even their first incident this year.

In July, a misleading TikTok suggested that a window on the observation deck of the Strat was dangerously cracking live. Investigations revealed that the damage predated the filming and posed no safety hazard, with the videographer having practiced the shooting in advance with a companion.

Ultimately, this situation exemplifies a broader truth we are increasingly weary of reiterating: most social media content creators are not journalists. The vast majority lack the necessary investigative skills and ethical standards, and should not be relied upon as sources of accurate information.

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