Russian vlogger faces deportation after disruptive BGC pranks

Russian-American content creator Vitaly Zdorovetskiy has been officially tagged as an “undesirable alien” by Philippine authorities following his series of disruptive pranks in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), where he harassed security guards, stole an industrial fan from a restaurant, and even threatened to rob a woman as part of his so-called “pranks.” He is now set for deportation and will be blacklisted from re-entering the country.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed that the 33-year-old vlogger was apprehended in coordination with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP). He has since been detained at the BI facility inside Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig, while awaiting deportation proceedings.

In a DZRH interview on Thursday, BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said that despite his arrest, Zdorovetskiy maintained a defiant attitude.

“Doon po sa paghuli sa kaniya, kumbaga medyo napakaangas pa rin. Parang nang-aasar pa. Nagki-kiss pa siya sa camera, parang nang-iinis pa po,” Sandoval shared, referring to the vlogger’s behavior.

("During his arrest, he was still acting very cocky. It was like he was taunting us. He was even kissing the camera, as if he was mocking us.")

In his controversial video entitled "Distubring the peace in the Philippines," he was seen forcibly filming a security guard who confronted him, mocking the guard by singing lines from Lady Gaga’s Paparazzi. He also repeatedly snatched a security guard’s cap, rode a patrol motorcycle without permission, and made crude remarks about a woman’s face mask while pretending to offer her money.

“I’m gonna f**king rob you.” He then reached for his bag and said, “I’m gonna give you money. No? Okay, ‘cause you’ve got a COVID mask, you liberal f**k. Go get your vaccine."

Authorities revealed that Zdorovetskiy has a history of being banned from other countries due to similar content.

“There are other countries na allegedly banned din siya dahil sa mga content niya. We will not tolerate it,” Sandoval said.

Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado emphasized that while the Philippines is known for its hospitality, foreign visitors must respect the country’s customs and laws.

Meanwhile, in an official statement on Wednesday, 2 April, BGC management confirmed that they were coordinating with authorities to address the incidents involving the social media personality.

“We are aware of multiple reports regarding disruptive incidents involving a social media personality within BGC,” the statement read. “We are actively coordinating with the appropriate authorities and are pursuing necessary legal measures to address the situation.”

Zdorovetskiy’s actions have sparked outrage among netizens, with many calling for stricter measures against foreign influencers who exhibit disrespectful behavior in the country.