Controversial Influencer Arrested at Universal Orlando Resort, Update Given

A popular YouTuber has been arrested at Universal Studios after filming a video at the popular theme park.

The topic of YouTubers at theme parks has long been controversial. While the vast majority cause no harm by creating entertaining content on property, a handful have generated drama in the past by behaving badly on property, or having a negative impact on the days of other guests.

For example, earlier this month, YouTuber Willito shared a video of himself behaving inappropriately on Grizzly River Run at Disney California Adventure, later leading to cast members removing him from the Disneyland Resort ride in front of his party. After screaming in the boarding area and loudly making innuendos about the water ride, he later screamed “somebody smells like sh*t” at a cast member and was ultimately told he couldn’t ride.

In the past, we’ve also seen prank YouTubers kicked out of Disneyland for persistently trying to interview and film cast members. “We’ve had multiple reports that you’ve been going up to random Cast Members and asking them questions,” a member of security later told duo Trey and Jackson, who run the YouTube channel Zip TV. “Unfortunately, that behavior is not allowed here. I have to end your visits for today.”

A popular live streamer named N3ON was also kicked out of Disney World after being confronted for filming with professional equipment and being disrespectful towards cast members. The same streamer was later kicked out of Universal Studios Hollywood in February 2024.

Meanwhile, YouTuber Rickey and his team were kicked out of SeaWorld Orlando in 2022 after pretending to fish in the park and claiming that God told him to do so. An employee stopped him within seconds, insisting that it “doesn’t matter if you’re playing. That’s not safe for our animals. That’s not safe for you.”

You get the point. This kind of thing happens a lot in popular theme parks as certain content creators push the boundaries to create clickable content. While some theme parks, such as Tokyo Disney Resort, have introduced strict rules around filming on property, this kind of behavior continues to happen – as was proven by an incident at Universal Orlando Resort earlier this week that led to one influencer being arrested.

On Wednesday (June 10), content creator Steve Will Do It – whose YouTube channel with over four million subscribers was permanently deleted in 2022 for “violating community guidelines” – was arrested at the Central Florida theme park resort after being accused of “trespassing.”

His family revealed the news on his social media, explaining that Steve, whose real name is Stephen Deleonardis, was “in jail right now” and that they were “working on getting him out.” The post was accompanied by a picture of his mugshot by Orange County Police, in which Deleonardis is seen wearing a fake mustache.

SteveWillDoIt is in jail right now.

We are working on getting him out.

– Steve’s family

SteveWillDoIt is in jail right now.

We are working on getting him out.

– Steve’s family pic.twitter.com/RDDZniSJ4w

— Steve Will Do It (@stevewilldoit) July 10, 2024

Deleonardis shared an update on X (formerly known as Twitter) upon his release, stating that “the best part of this is the fact I did this off camera for fun” and that “this had nothing to do with content I was just trying to have fun at Universal.”

While he didn’t explicitly explain why he was arrested, it seems like it’s because Deleonardis was previously banned from Universal Orlando Resort and disguised himself in an attempt to circumvent the ban and reenter. He posted that he “spent $5,000 on [a] private tour and rode 1 ride then immediately got arrested so lame” and that “[his] ban from Universal was up in like 26 days too.”

I spent $5,000 on private tour and rode 1 ride then immediately got arrested . So lame . My ban from universal was up in like 26 days too . :,(

I spent $5,000 on private tour and rode 1 ride then immediately got arrested . So lame . My ban from universal was up in like 26 days too . :,(

— Steve Will Do It (@stevewilldoit) July 11, 2024

Earlier this week, he shared a video of himself dressed as Superman at Universal Studios Hollywood, where he gave away $10,000. “First Mexican person I see in Universal gets $10,000,” he wrote on Instagram. “I am a $hero.” It’s unknown if the two incidents are related.

While Deleonardis’ personal YouTube channel was deleted in 2022, he is a member of the Canadian YouTube channel NELK Boys, which is primarily known for boisterous prank videos. The group is no stranger to controversy. In May 2020, Deleonardis and other members of the channel were arrested for disturbing the peace while filming a prank at a Target store in Mississippi.

Do you think theme parks need stricter rules on what content creators can and cannot do on property?