Haiti: Gangs kidnap YouTube star who tried to interview their leader Jimmy “Barbecue” Scherizer
A ransom of $600,000 has been demanded for the release of Edison Pierre Maalouf, a YouTuber, and his Haitian mentor Sean Robbins Jean Sacra. The social media star travels the world in search of the most dangerous situations. The two men, who were kidnapped on March 14, 2024, were reportedly released at around 1:30pm this Saturday (March 30). Some thought it was a hoax.
Edison Pierre Maalouf posted his final video on his @YourFellow Arab account a few hours after his arrival in the town of Cap-Haitien, located in northern Haiti.
He explains that he was the only guest at the hotel and that he had to spend the night there because it was too dangerous to take the road to Port-au-Prince after dark.
On March 14, upon arriving in Port-au-Prince, he was kidnapped along with his assistant Sean Robbins Jean Sacra. The videos then make headlines on social networks.
On his YouTube channel, Sean Robbins Jean Sacra describes himself as a specialist in tourism, translation, logistics and research. He has already worked with major international television channels such as BBC, CNN and National Geographic.
Addison Malouf is not a journalist. He is part of a group of adventurers who film their dangerous journeys to the most dangerous regions of the world.
From Nigeria to Mexico via Brazil, Maalouf broadcasts his meetings with gangs in these countries to his two million subscribers on YouTube.
The young man, based in Atlanta, USA, was hoping to meet Haiti's most dangerous gang leader, Jimmy “BBQ” Scherizer.
But the gangs decided otherwise. The social media star has been kidnapped. The ransom was set at $600,000. Despite paying a $40,000 deposit, the gangs demanded the entire amount.
“Lalim,” Maalouf’s friend, indicated on Channel X that he tried to keep his friend’s kidnapping a secret for two weeks and that efforts were continuing to release him.
On Friday (March 29), another YouTuber, Miles “Lord Miles” Rutledge, who describes himself as… “The last great British explorer”He claimed that he spoke with Maalouf by phone about the kidnappers.
Miles Rutledge, who is allegedly being held captive by the Taliban in Afghanistan, says his “Arab” friend is being held in a cage somewhere in the capital, Port-au-Prince.
According to Rutledge, the attempt to pay the ransom failed.
The latter criticizes the American government, which, according to him, is doing nothing to release Maalouf, an American citizen.
In his last interview with Addison Maalouf, Miles Rutledge found the man “in excellent spirits.” He couldn't wait to post videos about his experience with Haitian gangs.
On Saturday, March 30, 2024, at approximately 1:30 p.m., a post appeared on Addison Malouf X.’s account announcing his release. According to his post, his kidnapping was a misunderstanding. “They considered him a white person.”
There is no mention of ransom. In the comments, he was accused of organizing a stage show in order to increase his audience.
“Unapologetic pop culture trailblazer. Freelance troublemaker. Food guru. Alcohol fanatic. Gamer. Explorer. Thinker.”