An Australian vlogger, Ben, recently shared his experience in Delhi, sparking a heated debate among viewers. In his video, Ben labeled Delhi as the “Scam City” of Asia, expressing his dislike for the city. While some viewers supported his viewpoint, others accused him of unfairly tarnishing India’s image to gain views.
Ben’s Perspective on Delhi
Ben, who had previously sworn never to return to Delhi after a bad experience, was persuaded by fellow vlogger @baldandbankrupt to give the city another try. “I returned to my least favourite city in the world, Delhi! After a bad experience last time here in India, I swore never to return; however, @baldandbankrupt asked me to join him on one last adventure. Will it be the same as last time? Let’s find out!” Ben wrote in the video description.
In the video, Ben recounts how he dislikes visiting India. The “scam” mentioned in the video title occurs when Ben tries to buy a Rs. 150 toy from a street vendor. He hands the vendor a Rs. 500 note, and the man calls over another vendor to get change. However, the second vendor returns Rs. 200 instead of Rs. 300 and throws another toy at Ben, completing the scam.
Take a look at the entire vlog here:
Viewers’ Mixed Reactions
Since being uploaded, the video has amassed over 6.7 lakh views and continues to attract attention, sparking a wide range of reactions.
Some YouTube users formed a negative opinion of India based on this video. One commenter shared, “I’ve been to India once and hated it so much I left and swore to never go back. I went with an open mind, and it was worse than I could ever imagine.” Another user reacted similarly, stating, “Just watching the video gave me a headache.”
Backlash Against Ben’s Portrayal of India
While some supported Ben’s take, others expressed displeasure, accusing him of showing India in a negative light. One user commented, “You guys are determined to suffer. The cheapest ticket on any train in India will be an experience you won’t soon forget—a horrible idea. Also, wandering around Delhi buying booze for street people is not very smart. You will have colourful experiences. Besides, you could fly in perfect comfort non-stop to Varanasi for under a hundred bucks. I suppose suffering and complaining is your stock in trade.”
Another critic pointed out the financial motivation behind the video, saying, “If you hate the country, why are you going there? To get YouTube views from these people = YouTube $$$$$… stop complaining!!”
Past Controversial Videos on India
Previously, UK-based vlogger Benjamin Rich, known for his YouTube channel Bald and Bankrupt, shared a video titled “I visited India so you don’t have to.” In the video, Rich documented his travels around Delhi and parts of Kolkata, showcasing the less glamorous side of the cities. His portrayal of India in that video also led to a mixed reaction from viewers.
