DOING TOO MUCH That Ain’t No Prank: French Prankster Sentenced To 6 Months In Prison After Poking People With An Empty Syringe!
Viral Prank Gone Wrong Lands Influencer Behind Bars
Paris, France — What started as a “social experiment” for likes has ended with a jail sentence. French prankster Amine Mojito, known online for his outrageous and often shocking street videos, has been sentenced to six months in prison after a stunt where he poked strangers with an empty syringe for content.
The incident, which quickly went viral, showed Mojito sneaking up on unsuspecting pedestrians and jabbing them lightly with what appeared to be a syringe, all while filming their horrified reactions. He later claimed the syringe was empty and “just for laughs,” but the public — and French authorities — didn’t find it funny.
Fear and Outrage Across France
In the video, several victims can be seen recoiling in panic, some even crying or calling for help, believing they had been injected with a dangerous substance. Viewers online described the prank as “terrorizing,” “cruel,” and “beyond unacceptable.”
Prosecutors said Mojito’s actions caused public panic and psychological distress, especially given global health anxieties around disease and contamination. “You cannot terrorize innocent people and call it humor,” said one prosecutor during the trial. “This is not content creation — it’s assault.”
The Trial and Sentence
During court proceedings, Mojito apologized and insisted he “never meant to hurt anyone,” saying the syringe was sterile and contained no liquid. But the judge wasn’t convinced.
The court found him guilty of assault and endangering public safety, sentencing him to six months in prison and ordering him to pay damages to several of the victims.
From Fame to Fallout
Amine Mojito had built a following on TikTok and YouTube with prank videos that often pushed the line between comedy and cruelty — fake kidnappings, confrontations with police, and disturbing public dares.
This latest stunt, however, crossed a boundary even his fans couldn’t defend. His social media accounts have since been suspended, and many former followers are calling for platforms to crack down on creators who put others at risk for views.
A Cautionary Tale for the Digital Age
The case has reignited debate in France and beyond about how far influencers will go for virality — and how little regard some show for safety or consent.
“What we see here is the dark side of the attention economy,” said one media ethics expert. “When likes become the goal, empathy disappears.”
As Amine Mojito begins his six-month sentence, one thing is clear: the cost of going viral can be much higher than a few clicks — it can cost your freedom.