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00:00:00 – 00:13:23
Benjamin Rich, known as Bald and Bankrupt, rose to prominence as a British travel YouTuber who documents his travels, particularly in post-Soviet states. His adventures began in the early '90s with a prolonged stay in India, where he started a hotel business and later became fascinated with Soviet history during a stay in Moscow. Encouraged by fellow YouTuber Harold Balder, Ben started his YouTube channel in 2018, becoming known for his candid portrayals of local stories. However, his journey has been marred by controversy, including a public apology enforced by Chechen authorities, an arrest in Kazakhstan after exploring an abandoned Soviet spaceport, and a subsequent ban from Russia for his comments about President Putin and his fundraising efforts for Ukraine.
Benjamin's online presence is further complicated by allegations from online communities linking him to suspect behavior towards women and accusations of using deceitful tactics to engage with locals during his travels, all while promoting controversial figures like Andrew Tate. Despite his impactful travel content, his channels have seen a recent decline in activity, leading to various speculations about his motives and character. His complex narrative elicits mixed reactions from his audience, revealing a multifaceted persona that extends beyond his travel vlogs to include elements of both admiration and criticism.
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In this part of the video, the focus is on Benjamin Rich, also known as Bald and Bankrupt, a British travel YouTuber who gained popularity through his travel vlogs, especially in post-Soviet states. His journey began in the early ’90s with a trip to India, where he extended his stay and started a hotel business. His fascination with Soviet history was sparked during a two-month stay in Moscow in 1993. Ben learned Russian and filed for divorce from his Belarusian ex-wife in 2001. He faced allegations of credit card fraud and bankruptcy in the UK, which led to changes in his identity.
In 2018, he was encouraged by fellow YouTuber Harold Balder to start a YouTube channel, documenting travels through India and later moving to Russia in 2019, focusing on post-Soviet states. His content, characterized by simple editing and informative narratives, gained wide acclaim for its candid portrayal of local stories and history. Ben also wrote a book about his travels in Belarus under the alias Arthur Chichester. Notably, in November 2019, after a controversial remark about a Chechen woman in a video, he was compelled to publicly apologize by Chechen authorities.
00:03:00
In this part of the video, the narrator discusses Bald’s run-ins with the authorities in politically sensitive areas. In May 2022, Bald was arrested outside a derelict spaceport in Kazakhstan. He had entered the site with help from an urban explorer photographer and walked 30 kilometers with his companion, Elena. They explored the abandoned Soviet space shuttles, which led to international headlines. Although they were fined and released after meetings with authorities, Bald later announced in a vlog on September 1, 2022, that they were banned from Russia due to his previous comments about Vladimir Putin and fundraising efforts for Ukraine. He was charged with discrediting the Russian armed services and faced potential imprisonment.
00:06:00
In this part of the video, online commenters are reacting to a YouTuber named Baldwin’s experiences, including a dramatic interrogation he underwent. One commenter expresses skepticism about Baldwin’s intentions, while another Ukrainian commenter understands and is glad to continue following Baldwin’s adventures. The story appears straightforward but takes a darker turn when examined more closely. On Reddit, a community has speculated that Baldwin and his friend Harold Boulder might be sex tourists and pickup artists. Evidence collected includes Baldwin’s suspect interactions with women in his videos. For instance, in his first video titled “I love India’s policewomen,” Baldwin’s descriptions of policewomen are seen as predatory. Additionally, Reddit users have linked Baldwin to posts on known pickup artist forums under the pseudonym “vakuta Slash the fantasist.”
00:09:00
In this part of the video, the content centers on an individual known as Vakuta, who shares the same characteristics and history as Benjamin Rich, also known as Bald and Bankrupt. Vakuta details his acquittal from charges in Winchester, UK, and his subsequent escape from a significant credit card debt. Vakuta’s personal details and experiences align closely with those of Bald and Bankrupt, including his physical description, location changes, interests, and actions, which Reddit users have used to support their claims.
Vakuta is described as having used deceitful tactics to gain the trust of local men and older women to eventually seduce younger women while traveling. Screenshots from old Russian social media accounts show him posing with fake affluent settings to bolster these claims. Additionally, Vakuta’s controversial behaviors and associations, such as his endorsement of Andrew Tate, are discussed, reflecting a divisive and polarizing stance which led to further controversy.
00:12:00
In this part of the video, the discussion revolves around the controversial actions and remarks of a YouTube creator, Bald. Commenters express varied opinions; one stresses that personal beliefs can be tolerated, but not sexism, misogyny, or racism, highlighting evidence of Bald’s derogatory comments about foreign women. Another commenter mentions that these issues aren’t new and have been known for a couple of years, noting his association with Johnny FD. The segment also touches on Bald’s recent inactivity on his channels and the deletion of photos from his Instagram, with some fans suggesting conspiracy theories about Russian trolls and character assassination. The situation presents a complex and sensitive narrative about the creator.