IRL streamer Sherwin was confronted by Metropolitan Police in London for “bullying” a homeless woman after calling the authorities over a missing Oyster card.
‘In-Real-Life’ streams often see content creators take to the streets, and on Tuesday, November 26, Sherwin took to the streets of England’s capital city in clown makeup, meeting a homeless woman named Charlie at the start of his broadcast.
After some discussion about her current needs, Sherwin offered to give the woman his Oyster card, which is used on the city’s Underground system for travel, with the woman asking him if he was sure before taking it, while the streamer offered to go with her to check it worked.
Sherwin then decided that he had made a mistake, confronting the woman and asking for the Oyster card back, who explained that she had lost the Oyster card he had given her.
The streamer then decided to call the police, stating that he had been “robbed and mugged,” before telling police that she was selling it for drugs, and he thought he needed help.
Shortly after his call, London’s Metropolitan Police appeared on the scene, talking to both parties involved about the incident as they attempted to straighten the facts of the situation.
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After giving his side of the story, the female officer in attendance stated: “I’m confused though because you’ve told me that you gave it to her,” with Sherwin replying: “I wanted to test her if she needed it, the cash.”
Eventually, the police confirmed that no offense had been committed, and a male officer attending the scene gave the streamer a stern talking to about his behavior, telling him that he was bullying her.
“This is not a crime,” he told Sherwin. “You’ve given her the Oyster card. Why have you got this contraption? Why are you filming everything? Why are you dressed up like this? Were you holding out this Oyster card with the intention of getting more views or social media status?”
“To be honest, that’s how it appears. You’re wasting my time, you’re wasting my colleague’s time. This poor lady is on the streets, she’s homeless. Have a bit of respect, please. She doesn’t have a choice. First, you started the whole story saying I gave her my Oyster card, now you’ve said to me that you held up your card in her face and said; ‘Do you need an Oyster card?’ Do you understand how that comes across to a homeless person?”
“It’s like going up to a dog and holding up some food, and please, I’m not comparing her to a dog, I’m using an analogy. That’s effectively what you’re doing to people. These people have lives to lead too, now go and lead your own life, and don’t pick on others, it’s bullying. Grow up.”
Sherwin, who regularly streams on YouTube, was forced to leave without the Oyster card, telling his stream that he had made an error in letting her have it in the first place.
No charges were filed against either the streamer of the woman, but Sherwin certainly got an intense lecturer from the officer over his behavior.