American streamer IShowSpeed’s visit to Algeria turned from a high profile promotional trip into a nightmare after he was insulted and forced to leave Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers under a barrage of bottles and abuse.
The 21-year-old had gone to watch the local Super Cup between MC Alger and USM Alger as part of a live stream followed by around 49 million viewers at once, a huge opportunity to showcase Algerian football atmospheres.
Instead, chaotic scenes unfolded. Speed was harassed in the streets before the match, then targeted inside the stadium with projectiles and insults until he was escorted out, turning the night into a global controversy and damaging the image of the host fans.
In the live footage, he appears stunned, repeatedly asking what he had done wrong and saying, “I am not welcome here, I should leave.”
Darren Watkins, Speed’s real name, later said some Algerian fans had shown him great love, but that what happened in the stadium left him deeply disappointed.
The incident has sparked angry reactions in the United States, where many have labelled it a racist act and questioned Algeria’s ability to safely host international guests.
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