A teenager's streams hit 1M live viewers.
His mall appearances caused evacuations in China.
But before his 17-country world tour, he was almost cancelled.
Here's how IShowSpeed redeemed his reputation (and conquered the world)
It started with pure chaos.
Darren Watkins Jr. (IShowSpeed) went viral in 2021 for unhinged gaming reactions.
His brand was screaming, barking, and smashing his setup.
And it nearly destroyed his career in ways you wouldn't believe...
His early controversies were relentless:
• Banned from Twitch for misogynistic comments
• Banned from Valorant for toxic behavior
• Promoted crypto schemes to young viewers
Yet now, he's welcomed by presidents and mayors worldwide.
How did this happen?
The turning point? Stepping outside his bedroom.
In 2023, Speed began traveling to see soccer games and his idol Cristiano Ronaldo.
These real-world interactions revealed something surprising:
A genuinely curious kid experiencing the world for the first time.
The more he traveled, the more his image transformed.
His childlike wonder at new cultures was infectious.
The way he interacted with people made him a lot of fans:
He was trying local foods with exaggerated reactions and learning phrases in different languages.
These moments resonated beyond his gaming audience.
This experience gave him the idea that revamped his reputation:
By early 2024, Speed launched his "riot tour", visiting 17 countries across 4 continents.
What happened next shocked everyone:
In Thailand, he crashed a tuk-tuk and nearly fell off an elephant.
Indonesia saw 140,000 new subscribers in ONE HOUR (a YouTube record).
Vietnam crowned him king. Australia put his face on billboards.
But nothing prepared him for China—a reception that defied expectations:
China's reception was unprecedented.
Streets shut down as thousands of fans flooded city blocks.
Malls were evacuated for safety. National news covered his every move.
This wasn't just fandom—it was a cultural phenomenon. The secret to this connection?
It was his genuine cultural immersion:
• Learning Mandarin phrases on-stream
• Joining traditional ceremonies
• Trying local cuisine without hesitation
• Collaborating with Chinese internet stars
His authenticity transcended language barriers. But one moment stands out:
At a Miao village celebration, instead of observing like most tourists, he joined the traditional dance with full enthusiasm.
His joy was universal and something everyone understood regardless of culture.
This marked a turning point companies couldn't ignore...
Major brands noticed Speed's cross-cultural appeal.
In 2024, he secured deals with companies desperate to reach Gen Z globally.
His tour proved something powerful: Authentic cultural curiosity resonates more than polished marketing.
Why does this matter for creators?
The legacy of Speed's world tour extends beyond entertainment.
He created a blueprint for building global audiences through authentic cultural exchange.
No scripts. No rehearsals. No stereotyping.
Just real reactions to new experiences.
His journey from gaming chaos to global phenomenon proves authenticity trumps perfection.
Speed's success isn't despite his flaws, it's because he doesn't hide them.
His willingness to be vulnerable while exploring new cultures resonates worldwide.
The key takeaway?
Your creator brand should evolve as you evolve as a person.
Speed experienced insane personal growth from his world tour...and he didn't do too bad with brand growth either.
He found a way to combine those 2 things, and that's the sweet spot creators should aim for.
The difference between local and global creators comes down to infrastructure.
Most have great content but lack systems to expand beyond their core audience.
This holds back even the most talented creators I've worked with.
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The best creators know global expansion requires specialized tools.
You need systems that track audience sources, optimize for different cultures, and direct traffic effectively.
This is why we built GetAllMyLinks with global creators in mind.
Content creators: Want to expand your reach to new global audiences?
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Video/ Image credits:
• @vortexcozmo7/video/7499609561599364383?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7492003429428446775" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-blue-500">https://www.tiktok.com/@vortexcozmo7/video/7499609561599364383?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7492003429428446775
• @cristianovintage/video/7491704035016281366?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7492003429428446775" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-blue-500">https://www.tiktok.com/@cristianovintage/video/7491704035016281366?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7492003429428446775
• @lolwithkai/video/7414494474916597024?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7492003429428446775" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-blue-500">https://www.tiktok.com/@lolwithkai/video/7414494474916597024?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7492003429428446775
• @atomclipz/video/7488830408780500242?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7492003429428446775" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-blue-500">https://www.tiktok.com/@atomclipz/video/7488830408780500242?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7492003429428446775
• @soccervids061/video/7485585475777039662?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7492003429428446775" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-blue-500">https://www.tiktok.com/@soccervids061/video/7485585475777039662?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7492003429428446775
• @senyedit68/video/7488693701632396575?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7492003429428446775" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-blue-500">https://www.tiktok.com/@senyedit68/video/7488693701632396575?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7492003429428446775
• The Redemption of iShowSpeed - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vh1otMmKzGM
My name is Arthur and I love to talk about:
• Personal branding
• The creator economy
• The mindset it takes to succeed in business and life
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