YouTuber Accused Of Damaging Girl's Eye In Diwali Firecracker Accident 'Goes Ghost' Amid Backlash

YouTuber and streamer Asian Andy has accused British influencer Sam Pepper of avoiding all attempts at communication after a Diwali incident in Delhi left an eight-year-old girl with serious eye injuries.

In a post on X, Andy said he had been trying to reach Pepper to convey a message from the family’s legal team but received no response.

“I’ve tried to contact Sam directly, or through his friends to relay a msg from the families legal representation, and he has gone ghost and refuses to respond. It’s becoming clear that he has no intention to properly compensate this family or little girl he blinded and is trying to act like nothing happened. I’m currently trying to help the family set up an Indian go fund me account so they could be taken care of after this terrible incident,” he wrote.

Andy’s remarks came after a widely shared Instagram video accused Pepper of downplaying the seriousness of the injury. The post described Pepper as a well-known UK influencer who had come to India during Diwali and, during a livestream, fired a rocket towards a group of children.

The firecracker struck a young girl in the eye. Because it was broadcast live, the footage could not be removed, and many of his viewers criticised him for the reckless act.

I’ve tried to contact Sam directly, or through his friends to relay a msg from the families legal representation, and he has gone ghost and refuses to respond. It’s becoming clear that he has no intention to properly compensate this family or little girl he blinded and is trying… https://t.co/1RsTUAAxwR

— Asian Andy (@AsianAndyFilms) November 28, 2025

Pepper later claimed the child had suffered only a “minor cut”, adding that he had apologised, paid the medical expenses, and that the matter had been resolved before he left India. However, the family’s account paints a far more severe picture.

Doctors have reportedly confirmed permanent damage to the girl’s left eye, including a full-thickness corneal injury and uveal tissue prolapse — an injury that has led to the loss of her eye.

The incident has caused anger among both Indian users and overseas viewers who had watched the livestream. Many criticised Pepper for treating the moment as casual entertainment, while several of his followers abroad expressed shame and disappointment over his conduct.

The controversy has also had repercussions for Pepper professionally.

The British livestreamer is reportedly facing a permanent ban from the streaming platform Kick, following the wave of backlash that erupted after the Delhi incident.

Pepper had been in the national capital filming interactions with local children celebrating Diwali. What began as light-hearted engagement — with firecrackers, laughter and festive energy — quickly turned into a disturbing scene that spread widely across social media.

In the video, Pepper can be seen igniting firecrackers near a group of children. One of the rockets shoots directly into the crowd and strikes the eight-year-old girl, who instantly recoils in pain.

As public criticism intensifies and the family seeks support, questions are now being raised about accountability, online behaviour, and the responsibilities of influencers who film in vulnerable spaces.