Fact Check: Viral Video of Spilled Tea Incident Is Fabricated

In a digital age where viral videos can spark outrage within hours, a recent clip showing a man apparently dousing a child with scalding tea has caused widespread indignation across social media platforms. However, an investigation has revealed the incident was entirely staged for entertainment purposes.

The video, which circulated widely this week, appeared to show a shopkeeper pouring hot tea on a 13-year-old who had allegedly approached him for assistance. The footage triggered immediate backlash, with numerous social media users demanding justice and the arrest of the tea seller. One X user posted, “Friends, repost this so much that this tea seller gets arrested…!!! He has no right to pour boiling tea on a child like that. The limit was crossed when the people standing there were just watching the spectacle. Utterly shameful.”

Fact-checkers at India Today launched an investigation into the origins of the contentious footage. Through reverse image searching of key frames, they traced the video to an Instagram account belonging to content creator Farhan Beg, who uses the moniker “Booster Bhai” across various social media platforms.

The original video was posted on December 31, 2025, with Beg later clarifying in a January 5 repost that the content was created purely for entertainment. His Instagram biography explicitly identifies him as a digital content creator, and his feed features multiple similar videos showing him splashing liquids at children in seemingly dramatic scenarios.

When contacted directly by fact-checkers, Beg confirmed that all his videos are staged and produced solely for entertainment value. He explained that the “steam” visible in the controversial clip was actually created using liquid nitrogen to simulate the appearance of boiling tea, while the actual liquid was harmless.

The tea shop featured in these videos is located in Nanpara, near Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh, where Beg regularly films his content. The elaborate staging, including the use of special effects to create dramatic visuals, highlights the increasingly sophisticated methods content creators employ to generate viral moments.

This incident underscores the growing challenge of distinguishing authentic content from fabricated scenarios on social media. As digital platforms continue to reward engagement through algorithms, creators sometimes resort to shocking or controversial content to increase viewership and followers.

Media literacy experts point to this case as an example of why viewers should approach viral content with skepticism, particularly videos depicting potentially harmful situations. The rapid spread of the tea-throwing video, accompanied by outraged commentary, demonstrates how quickly misinformation can travel before fact-checkers have an opportunity to verify the authenticity of the content.

Social media companies have faced mounting pressure to implement more robust verification systems for viral content, especially when it involves apparent harm to vulnerable groups like children. While some platforms have introduced labeling for manipulated media, critics argue these measures remain insufficient to prevent the spread of misleading content.

For content creators like Beg, the line between entertainment and potential public misunderstanding presents ethical considerations about responsibility and transparency in digital media production. Though his account clearly identifies his work as creative content, when videos circulate beyond their original context, this crucial information can be lost.

The tea-throwing video serves as a reminder that in today’s interconnected digital landscape, critical evaluation of emotional content is increasingly important before sharing or responding to apparent instances of injustice or abuse captured on camera.