Viral Video of ‘Gen Z Goliath’ Crawling Like a Dog as Arabs Cheer in Dubai Sparks Uproar

A viral video featuring Kenyan content creator Bradley Barongo, popularly known as ‘Gen Z Goliath,’ has ignited a heated online discussion. The clip shows Barongo playfully getting down on all fours and pretending to be an animal while interacting with a pet lioness in Dubai.

The content creator, who is currently in Dubai for a branding assignment, is seen crawling on all fours as his Arab hosts cheer him on in the background. The pet lioness climbs onto his back during the playful moment, which has since drawn mixed reactions from netizens.

While some viewers found the act entertaining, many others expressed outrage, calling it demeaning and dehumanizing.

One user on X (formerly Twitter) commented, “Poverty is a bad thing, enyewe… I don’t know why Arabs hate Africans this much.” Another tweet read, “The world is very cruel to broke men.”

Mercy Naeku described the scene as “modern slavery,” while Joseph Njogu called it “low-key racism.” Hannington added, “This is disgraceful. Even if poverty is the enemy.” Another user lamented, “Poverty is dehumanizing and strips one of all their dignity… sad.”

However, not everyone viewed the act negatively. Some defended Barongo, arguing that it was simply part of the hustle and within the bounds of acceptable content creation. One user wrote, “Let the young man go out and hunt in his desperation. If the elephant kills him, his poverty ends. If he kills the elephant, his poverty ends.”

Barongo, alongside popular Tanzanian TikToker Tenge Tenge, were hosted by Zam Zam. In the video, the property owners can be seen cheering as the lioness interacts with Barongo.

Who is Gen-Z Goliath?

Bradley Barongo first gained widespread attention during anti-government demonstrations in Kenya, where his towering height made him stand out, earning him the nickname ‘Gen Z Goliath.’

Since his rise to fame, Barongo has secured several endorsement deals, including partnerships with a car company, a shoe brand, and a burger chain, leveraging his unique stature for marketing purposes.

Despite his growing popularity, Barongo continues to face everyday challenges, such as finding clothes and shoes that fit his size—a struggle he has openly discussed in various interviews and social media posts.