Luis “WestCOL”Fernando, a prominent Spanish-speaking Kick streamer, known for his engaging gambling, gaming, and “Just Chatting”streams, recently found himself at the center of controversy following a staged shootout during a streaming session titled Actor for a Day. In this event, which was entirely scripted, WestCOL donned a military outfit and staged an injury from a simulated gunshot.
The production was set in a warehouse filled with props, cameras, and screens, creating an immersive environment for the performance. WestCOL portrayed a heroic character, dramatically falling to the ground after being shot, enhanced by the use of fake blood and miniature explosives to convincingly portray the scene.
Although the shoot was intended solely for entertainment, misinformation blossomed on social media soon after the stream aired. Some users suggested that WestCOL had been genuinely harmed, leading to widespread misconceptions about the authenticity of his injuries.
In response to the ongoing confusion, WestCOL took to X to emphasize how susceptible audiences are to being misled by false narratives:
“How easy it is to deceive stupid people on the internet, what a danger, false information can spread so easily.”(Translated from Spanish by Google)
He expressed concern over the naive acceptance of this misinformation, labeling those who believed the unfounded claims as “stupid,”and underscored the broader implications of rapidly spreading false news.
Misrepresentation of WestCOL’s Acting Performance
WestCOL made a significant impact on Kick after transitioning from Twitch in 2023, largely due to the latter’s stringent regulations on gambling content. As of now, he has amassed over 1.84 million followers, making him the most followed streamer on the platform, surpassing notable personalities like Adin Ross.
During his latest stream, WestCOL embraced his role, navigating the set in a camouflage outfit and a maroon hat. In a bid to authentically portray his character, he limped around, embodying the physicality of his supposed injuries—a testament to his method acting approach.
The streamer also shared a photograph from the set showing him bandaged, captioned:
“Let’s hope I can fight… they tried to rob me and I got shot.”(Translated from Spanish by Google)
However, several social media accounts manipulated footage from the stream to create the illusion of genuine injuries. For instance, the account @kick_clips compiled clips showcasing the streamer being shot and falling, complete with fake blood and actors portraying medical personnel, thus misrepresenting the staged scene as a real event.
Additionally, these accounts falsely insinuated the presence of real firearms on set, suggesting that an actual weapon was used instead of prop guns during the filming.
In a related note, during August 2024, Adin Ross discussed his irregular streaming schedule with WestCOL, citing personal challenges including mental health issues and stress-related concerns.