Wannabe influencer goes viral for doling out massive machetes to homeless people in Austin and New Orleans
A video taken in New Orleans by influencer povwolfy wherein he distributes an unsheathed machete and a handle of vodka. povkarson/instagram
A self-styled social media influencer sparked outrage this week after he went viral for handing out 18-inch machetes and bottles of alcohol to homeless people in Austin and New Orleans — a stunt he claimed was meant to “help” them.
Keith Castillo, who posts online under the name “povwolfy,” shared a Thanksgiving video on TikTok and Instagram that quickly climbed past 14 million views. In the clip, Castillo casually offers the large stainless-steel blades to people living on the street, asking, “Here, want one of these?” One recipient replies enthusiastically, while another asks for an extra.
A caption in the video reads, “Keeping the homeless in the streets,” a line many viewers interpreted as mocking the people he was recording.
Castillo told The Post he bought the Gordon-brand machetes — still in their original packaging — in bulk from Harbor Freight for under $5 each.
The Thanksgiving post wasn’t an isolated incident. In a Nov. 22 video, Castillo is seen handing out four unwrapped machetes along with large bottles of vodka in what appears to be a remote area of New Orleans. Days earlier, on Nov. 20, he filmed himself distributing seven more blades, which he described as “big ass swords,” claiming the stunt was meant to keep homeless individuals “safe.” Viewers weren’t convinced.
“Keeping them safe [no], making them dangerous [yes],” one Instagram user commented.
Castillo, 29, said he is on a nationwide tour that began in October. When reached by phone, he said he was in Little Rock, Arkansas, where he was again “handing out alcohol and machetes to the homeless.”
“I have like 30 machetes in my car right now,” he said, laughing. “Dude, they’re cheap.”
@povwolfyKeeping the homeless in the streets safe 💯 🙏
According to Castillo, he films multiple videos in one city, then moves to the next for “safety,” repeating the process every couple of weeks. So far, he has carried out his stunts in Austin, New Orleans, and Little Rock — and he’s planning to expand to larger cities.
“I have plans to go to Vegas, Skid Row in L.A. soon,” he said. “I should be in New York in January. I have a lot of friends out there. Go hand out a bunch of machetes and fireballs there, too.” By “fireballs,” he meant 1-ounce bottles of 66-proof cinnamon whiskey.
The Corpus Christi, Texas, native said he consulted police about handing out blades and was told he wasn’t breaking any laws. He insisted he also wasn’t doing anything unethical, arguing that the people he filmed would not misuse the weapons.
“These are for, like, tool purposes,” Castillo said. “They have zero intent for what people are claiming they want to do with the [machetes].”
He showed no hesitation about distributing alcohol, even to individuals who might struggle with addiction.
“Honestly, I really don’t care, bro,” he said. “It’s good for the clicks and views. Gotta do what we have to do so we eat.”
The NYPD did not comment on Castillo’s plans to film in New York or discuss whether his activities would be legal. But law enforcement experts reacted sharply.
“That sounds like a cocktail for disaster — alcohol and machetes. Could we get any dumber?” said retired NYPD Sgt. and John Jay College of Criminal Justice professor Joseph Giacalone, noting that simple possession of a machete is not illegal.
Each video posted on Castillo’s “povwolfy” account also includes lengthy promotional text for the betting company Stake.
Stake, as well as police departments in Austin, Little Rock, and New Orleans, did not respond to requests for comment.
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