On Tuesday, the 15th of July, American internet celebrity “IShowSpeed,” also known as Darren Jason Watkins, visited Latvia. The visit, funded by the Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA) for 30,000 euros, has sparked shock, confusion, and harsh criticism among parts of the public – especially after the influencer behaved inappropriately at the Freedom Monument, while several officials greeted him with smiles and cameras.
Social media remains ablaze with outraged comments – footage shows IShowSpeed jumping and shouting on the base of the monument, acting with no apparent respect for the site that symbolizes Latvia’s national freedom. Users are asking – where were the responsible officials? Was such “promotion” for Latvia even necessary? Many believe the Freedom Monument was reduced to a backdrop for a global spectacle of gullibility.
Former Minister of Welfare Ramona Petraviča also issued sharp criticism in a Facebook post, stating:
“What else did you expect from the Pride coalition? According to the progressives, our patriotism has become ‘too nationalistic’ and needs to be diluted. So, before we get too carried away in the Song Festival mood, they let a Black guy jump around on our Freedom Monument. Ministers greet this savior of ours, drive him around in limousines, and beg him to promote Latvia to his followers – because otherwise, we’re just too white here, and our demographics aren’t doing well either.”
Un te Backflip uz Brīvības pieminekļa pic.twitter.com/q3GYhlf9Vq
— Kārlis Arājs (@karlis_arajs) July 15, 2025
The internet celebrity was welcomed at Riga Airport by Latvia’s Minister of Economics, Viktors Valainis (ZZS), and Riga City Council member Mairis Briedis (S).
Meanwhile, the event at the Freedom Monument had not even been coordinated with the Riga City Council. Riga’s Vice Mayor Edvards Ratnieks confirmed this on social media platform X, saying:
“I condemn such activities at the Freedom Monument, which is a symbol of our nation’s and state’s freedom.”
He added that the Riga Municipal Police will evaluate the incident and the responsibility of those involved.
The Riga Municipal Police have since launched an administrative violation process. According to an official statement on the police department’s Facebook page, the circumstances are currently being clarified, and the involved and responsible persons are being identified. No further details about current or planned actions will be made public at this time.
During his visit, IShowSpeed livestreamed for over two hours, visiting Āgenskalns Market, Victory Park, the Freedom Monument, and Dome Square. The livestream attracted over 120,000 concurrent viewers, and the recorded video has already reached 7.2 million views on YouTube.
LIAA Director Ieva Jāgere emphasized that, given the influencer’s global reach – 42 million YouTube followers and 37 million on Instagram – the agency saw an opportunity to promote Latvia’s international visibility. In previous visits to other countries, IShowSpeed reportedly attracted “large crowds of fans,” and the agency coordinated with responsible authorities in advance to prevent disruptions.
However, for much of the Latvian public, this visit did not resemble a “marketing opportunity,” but rather a cheap, chaotic show at the expense of national values. IShowSpeed stayed in Latvia for just a few hours, but the debate around respect, boundaries, and national dignity continues to intensify in his wake.
The post “Monument dishonored, officials smile” – Latvian public outraged after IShowSpeed’s visit appeared first on Baltic News Network.
