16-Hour Livestream of “Chinese Water Torture” Sparks Outrage and Comparisons to Black Mirror Episodes
An American streamer known as IZIDORE sparked controversy on the internet after hosting a live broadcast on Twitch on April 14, where he subjected himself to a bizarre challenge: allowing viewers to torture him with water drops in exchange for donations.
With about 40,000 followers on the platform, IZIDORE created a system that released water drops — at varying intensities — directly onto his face whenever someone bought Bits, Twitch’s virtual currency, or subscribed to his channel.
The performance was inspired by the so-called “Chinese water torture,” a historical interrogation technique where water is repeatedly dripped onto a person’s forehead, causing extreme psychological discomfort over time. According to historical accounts, the practice can induce distress and even anxiety attacks.
During the 16-hour livestream, the content creator became drenched and visibly exhausted but continued to offer different “levels” of torture for users — ranging from a simple drop to what he called a “mega drop.”
When asked by a viewer why he subjected himself to such an experience, he responded sarcastically: “The rent is due.”
The broadcast attracted nearly half a million views but also generated strong negative reactions on social media. Many users criticized the “normalization of torture” and compared the scene to an episode of *Black Mirror*, where characters submit to humiliating acts for money on a fictional platform called DumDummies.
Shoutout to keem https://t.co/G9sLy6HLbJ
— izidore (@izidoreX) April 14, 2025
“This is basically the first episode of the new season,” wrote one user on X. Another commented: “This is why being a content creator has become synonymous with self-destruction.”
Despite the criticism, IZIDORE ended the stream saying that he didn’t feel tortured: “It was really fun, great chat. The outcome was much better than expected.”
This is not the first time the streamer has resorted to eccentric or self-deprecating stunts to attract attention. Some of his previous feats include eating 100 chicken nuggets, locking himself in a cage for a full day, and even building a house of cards while viewers sabotaged the structure with donations.
Source and images: Unilad / X @izidoreX. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
