Popular YouTuber Fidias Panayiotou has issued an apology after his video titled “I Travelled Across Japan For Free” stirred controversy and anger among locals.
The video, which showcased his attempts to evade train fares and skip paying a five-star hotel breakfast bill, garnered nearly half a million views.
Some outraged viewers took to social media, calling for his arrest, while rail authorities are contemplating potential legal actions against him.
In Japan, good manners and respect for societal norms are highly valued, making pranks or actions perceived as disrespectful strongly frowned upon.
Saying sorry
On Tuesday, the Cypriot YouTuber expressed his remorse, saying, “Hello beautiful people, I apologize to the Japanese people if we made them feel bad; that was not our goal,” as his video went viral over the weekend.
Fidias Panayiotou identifies himself as a “professional mistake maker” on his YouTube channel, which boasts 2.4 million subscribers. The controversial Japan video featured three others and was part of a $10,000 (£8,216) challenge.
In one instance, the video shows him hiding in a bullet train restroom and pretending to be unwell when confronted by a conductor. He then flees to board another train and repeats the stunt.
Mr. Panayiotou also solicits bus fare from a stranger but falls short by 80 yen (£0.44; $0.53). The bus driver locks him in the vehicle and transports him to a police station, where he is detained for five hours before being released.
Later in the video, he impersonates a hotel guest to enjoy a complimentary breakfast. While addressing the camera, he boasts, “And we’re leaving the hotel without getting caught and without any problem.”
The exact date of the video’s filming and whether Mr. Panayiotou and his companions are still in Japan remain unclear.
