IShowSpeed reminds me of Ali G and Borat

Image: IShowSpeed

While I was never a follower of IShowSpeed, I did come across some of his YouTube videos from time to time. One particular incident that stood out to me was when he was unexpectedly RKO’d by WWE Superstar Randy Orton while dressed in a PRIME mascot suit on top of the announcer table in Wrestlemania XL. Despite the unexpected turn of events, he took the bump in stride. This incident piqued my curiosity about IShowSpeed’s widespread popularity and significant influence on the younger generation, particularly in the United States.

Since IShowSpeed visited the Philippines, I have been checking out his videos on YouTube. Some of his stuff evokes memories of someone else for me who once engaged in comparable adventures to those of iShowSpeed — venturing into diverse countries, navigating through demanding terrains, and embracing local cultures, traditions and communities. IShowSpeed can be described as fearless; indifferent to whether his encounters will be positive or negative, he fearlessly embarks on his journeys. This fearlessness is one of the main reasons that attract people to become his fans, highlighting a distinctive aspect of his character.

During the late 1990s and early 2000s, the fictitious characters “Ali G” and “Borat,” brought to life by Sacha Baron Cohen, gained immense popularity. At the time, there was a widespread misconception among people that these characters were even real individuals because they were cartoonish, to say the least, and then some. Much like IShowSpeed, “Ali G” and “Borat” traveled to different countries and had interactions with everyday people from various countries. “Borat,” in particular, stood out for its buffoonery, ignorance and comedic antics, captivating audiences worldwide which resulted in him having two movies made.

Ali G and Borat. Image: Sacha Baron Cohen

I still treasure my collection of “Borat” and “Ali G” specials and movies, which used to be a regular source of entertainment for me during my teens. Indeed, these comedic gems brought laughter but also offered a striking portrayal of cultural shock for them. Sacha Baron Cohen’s exceptional talent as a character actor never ceases to amaze me; his ability to seamlessly embody two distinct personas with just a touch of makeup, prosthetics and wardrobe is truly remarkable. The early 2000s was a time when vibrant, audacious and captivating personalities knew no limits. This era of boundary-pushing entertainment is reminiscent of the spirit embodied by figures like Sacha Baron Cohen. 

Fast forward to 2024, and we encounter a modern-day equivalent to them (“Ali G” and “Borat”) in YouTuber IShowSpeed. IShowSpeed’s embrace of everything and any approach to content creation sets him apart, offering viewers a glimpse of the world through his unfiltered perspective and experiences. It’s an example of the enduring appeal of dynamic, brave and engaging personalities in the realm of entertainment that we once had in the likes of Sacha Baron Cohen’s “Ali G” and “Borat.” Online content creator IShowSpeed is following and is a part of this tradition whether he is aware of it or not. Different times, but similar styles, indeed. Can you imagine a young “Ali G” or “Borat” with IShowSpeed if they had visited the Philippines, together? Good God! That would be chaos! 

It is evident that IShowSpeed seeks attention, fame and subscribers, yet he also genuinely immerses himself in the cultures of the countries he visits before moving on. Unsurprisingly, he has found himself in amusing, bewildering and surreal situations where he gets swarmed by crowds of fans, a scenario that has unfolded in Norway, the Philippines and Vietnam. Remarkably, he fearlessly confronts anyone he believes has wronged him, regardless. IShowSpeed has proven that he can defend himself and wisely travel with at least two bodyguards. One can only imagine the potential chaos if he were alone; an international incident might have already occurred.

I’ve recently come across some incredibly amusing moments involving IShowSpeed. Despite some of these incidents being older, they still managed to crack me up, especially for someone new to his YouTube channel. For instance, there was this hilarious scene where someone threw a dead rat, wrapped in what seemed like wax paper, at him. Haha…. Another memorable moment was when he watched an AI-altered video of himself meeting Cristiano Ronaldo for the first time, which happened, and then the AI made them make out! Haha… And let’s not forget the AI-generated image of him being “pregnant” with Cristiano Ronaldo’s baby, which freaked him out. Haha…. These absurd, crazy, and silly situations are funny because his reactions are authentic, unfiltered and sincere! Oh, and yes, IShowSpeed is a massive Cristiano Ronaldo fan. I mean, the dude shed tears, threw a tantrum and started screaming when Cristiano Ronaldo and his team did not qualify, and IShowSpeed was livid when Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t become the MVP, it was as if he was the one up for the award. Haha…. It’s quite evident why some mischievous individuals might try to use his unwavering Christiano Ronaldo fanfare against him. 

Nevertheless, it’s his genuine childlike reactions that truly endear people to him or at least get interested in watching more of his videos and jumping on the IShowSpeed bandwagon for now because the guy is still young and has a lot of miles left in his career as a YouTuber.

IShowSpeed is the sole content creator on YouTube, a streamer and a prominent figure on social media who boldly took on the challenge of facing legendary eight-time division boxing champion Manny Pacquiao. Known as our “Pambansang Kamao,” he is not only the pride of our nation but also a revered national treasure. It’s quite unconventional, isn’t it, for anyone to be that reckless to challenge Manny Pacquiao? Is IShowSpeed perhaps a bit out of his mind? Haha! His decision to limit himself to “70 percent” of his punching power proved the right decision, as it only took less than 2 percent of Manny Pacquiao’s punching power to the left side of his body to knock out IShowSpeed during their sparring session. Then, the punch test! Which knocked him down with not even Manny Pacquiao’s strongest hand, which happens to be his left because he is a southpaw. Haha! Moreover, witnessing him trying balut and siopao – the latter eating experience seemed to have left a lasting impression on him during his recent trip to Vietnam after visiting the Philippines – is quite amusing. Meow… meow… meow! Hahaha! 

IShowSpeed is like a living, breathing and walking TV show, as his unpredictability guarantees entertainment with every move he makes being filmed for his content. These cartoonish antics contribute to his growing subscriber base, which is consistently his primary objective, and he has now accumulated 30 million subscribers on his main YouTube channel. By the way, the dude is in Cambodia now. 

IShowSpeed demonstrates authenticity, a quality that resonates regardless of one’s fanfare. Despite IShowSpeed’s outspoken, brash and sometimes in-your-face nature, IShowSpeed remains true to himself, and this is his key factor in attracting viewers, followers and subscribers and keeping them engaged with his various online content.