IShowSpeed’s Algeria stadium stream goes awry after fans spray him with water
By Steve Ireri, January 18, 2026American streamer Darren Jason Watkins Jr, popularly known as IShowSpeed, faced unexpected challenges during his Algeria tour stop after fans repeatedly sprayed water at him during a live stadium stream, forcing him to cut short his session.
Speaking during the livestream from the stadium on Saturday, January 17, 2026, the streamer revealed that his initial attempts to stream from the lower sections near the players were disrupted when fans began hurling objects, including spraying water, in his direction.
Even after relocating to a higher tier within the stadium to continue the broadcast, the water spraying continued, leaving his jersey soaked and prompting him to walk out of the venue alongside his bodyguards.
The streamer noted that the incident occurred while he had merely intended to enjoy a football match, describing the situation as chaotic and contrary to his expectations for a peaceful viewing experience.
“Water is being thrown at me. Why is that? Oh no, never mind. But they are watching a football game. That does not make sense at all,” Speed said.
A stadium photographer present during the event confirmed that the fans’ reactions were tied to their discomfort with being filmed during the match, highlighting a cultural nuance regarding privacy within the stadium.
“They do not like it when you film them. But you know it is the ultras’ mentality they have; they like you, but they do not want you filming them while they are inside their stadium,” the stadium photographer who was next to him said.
While exiting the venue, the streamer lamented that he had arrived with pure intentions, but the act of fans hurling objects at him suggested that he was not welcome there.
“I am just here to watch the football match; instead, it is too crazy. We are leaving. They keep pouring water on me. I tried to show you, chat, like, this is the biggest tour in Algeria; there are two big football clubs playing, but I think I am not welcome here. I was just trying to watch the match,” Speed said as his bodyguards attempted to convince him that the fans did not do so because they hate him.
North Africa leg
The Algeria visit came shortly after Speed streamed from the Sahara Desert, following a brief but historic stop in Egypt, where he became the first streamer in the world to go live from the pyramids in Giza.
Before arriving in North Africa, the streamer had been in Ethiopia, which became his 10th country on the tour.
His Ethiopia visit came shortly after he spent two days in Kenya, where he livestreamed from several locations and interacted closely with fans who turned out in large numbers to catch a glimpse of him.
Prior to Kenya, Speed had toured Rwanda, continuing a fast-paced journey that has seen him criss-cross the continent while documenting culture, landmarks and spontaneous street moments for his millions of followers worldwide.
Other tour highlights
From Angola, he travelled to South Africa, receiving an overwhelming welcome marked by massive crowds, street interactions and viral livestream moments.
His third stop was Mozambique, where he arrived on Saturday, January 3, 2026. There, Speed streamed from city streets and coastal areas, joined traditional dancers and acrobats, and openly praised the country’s scenery and culture.
After Mozambique, Speed headed to Eswatini, then to Botswana, where he streamed from the jungle and went on safari, before proceeding to Zimbabwe as his sixth destination. While in Zimbabwe, he announced a brief one-day break before resuming his tour activities.
On Friday, January 9, 2026, the streamer arrived in Zambia, his seventh stop, where thousands of fans turned out to greet him. During the visit, he toured the capital, received custom artwork from a local artist, sampled local food and interacted with children during a karate class.