Phidias and Kopsialis, the two controversial social media giants, were seen heading to Syntagma Square.
What can one buy with 50 euros? A half ferry ticket (one way) to a Greek island, a week’s worth of groceries for a single household, or almost an entire ticket for one of the many concerts taking place this summer in Athens. Alternatively, two changes of clothes from a multinational chain. In short, not much. Yet, this is what YouTuber Alexandros Kopsialis and his Cypriot colleague and newly elected MEP Phidias Panagiotou offered passers-by for participating in humiliating challenges.
The meeting of these two controversial social media figures would have made news regardless, but their decision to create a challenge in the middle of Syntagma Square, handing out small amounts of money to passers-by who agreed to participate in awkward and embarrassing tasks, aimed to generate more virality for their internet antics, albeit at the expense of those who participated.
The video, published on July 1 on Alexandros Kopsialis’ YouTube account, began as an interview, part of the “Private Outcry” series, where he superficially chats with various personalities. This interview with Phidias took place before he was elected by 20% of the Cypriot electorate, securing one of his country’s six seats in the European Parliament, adding yet another attribute to his already full resume.
Phidias | The 1st YouTuber to Become a Politician | PRIVATE CRASH #48
The two social media stars met in central Athens, got into Kopsialis’ car, and headed to Syntagma Square. From the start, things went as poorly as one might expect from two individuals who felt too important and invulnerable to worry about minor details. This included Kopsialis parking his car on the sidewalk, not wearing a seatbelt for part of the video, and using his phone while driving.
Phidias debuted with a show for his followers in the European Parliament hall.
Big Challenges
To honor the YouTube giant who interviewed him, Kopsialis, who remains unfazed by his cancellation two years ago and retains a million followers on Instagram, decided to showcase his generosity. Armed with 500 euros, he asked random passers-by in Syntagma Square to perform tasks reminiscent of the extreme challenges Phidias undertakes—like surviving on water for 30 days, spending five days buried with a snake, and camping outside SpaceX offices for three months to get a hug from Elon Musk.
Volunteers flocked around the YouTubers, drawn by the lure of money, ready to perform Kopsialis’ ridiculous feats for 50 euros. This included diving into the fountain in Syntagma Square and other equally demeaning tasks, revealing just how low some are willing to go for a small sum of money.
