Key Takeaways
- There are reports that YouTuber Elliot Eastman has been kidnapped in the Philippines.
- The area where Eastman lives has a history of kidnappings.
- Content creators are facing safety risks globally, and some are relying on heightened security.
youtube There are reports that content creator Elliot Eastman has been kidnapped in the Philippines. The 26-year-old is a small YouTube creator with over 1.9 million subscribers who primarily shares his experiences living in the Philippines as an American through vlogs and streams.
According to Eastman's YouTube bio, he moved to Mindanao's Zamboanga Del Norte province a year and a half ago, where he eventually met his wife in Sibuco province. Most of Eastman's vlogs feature positive experiences in the province, but in his YouTube stream last September, he talked about people hating him and saying his life could be in danger because he was receiving threats.
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On October 17, Eastman was reportedly kidnapped from his home in Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte by gunmen acting as police. According to local reports, the YouTuber attempted to resist, but was dragged away on a boat without suffering fatal injuries. Police say they are actively tracking Eastman's whereabouts and have already identified a person of interest, but are continuing to investigate further to identify the leader of the kidnapping ring. Overall, local authorities are doing their best to return Eastman safely home. Mindanao's anti-kidnapping group is also in close contact with Eastman's family and wife, who confirmed they have not heard from him since the incident.
YouTuber Elliott Eastman kidnapped
In the Rappler report, Sibuco citizens commented on Eastman's kidnapping, saying they believed the era of kidnappings was over in their region. The Mindanao region has experienced decades of insurgency and armed conflict, which is why many consider some areas dangerous. In particular, the Zamboanga Peninsula has been known as a 'heaven for kidnappers and other illegals,' and the local government has been working to erase that stigma. However, it is important to note that Eastman's kidnapping has not been confirmed to be an act by rebels or terrorists. This isn't the first time the YouTube community has heard of a content creator being kidnapped in a foreign country. YourFellowArab and others made headlines after they were kidnapped in Haiti.
The safety of content creators is at risk
Many content creators have shared worrying stories of their safety being put at risk, with many even documenting their own harrowing experiences. Last month, streamers from FaZe Clan watched thousands of viewers witness the moment police arrived at the mansion on Subtone. There were also cases where creators were attacked while filming.
The public persona of many content creators and streamers makes them easy targets for people to track. It has gotten to the point where some people are protecting themselves with increased security and self-defense weapons.
