In one of the most jaw-dropping stunts of 2025, a French influencer known as Amine Mojito (who also calls himself Ilan M online), 27, has just been sentenced to prison for staging a horrifying prank: pretending to inject unsuspecting strangers with a capped syringe on the streets of Paris.
The viral video content, meant to shock and entertain, instead triggered public outrage, legal action, and a chilling reminder that chasing clout can breed chaos.
An Idiotic Injection Prank
In June, just days ahead of the Fête de la Musique (France’s nationwide street music festival), Mojito released a video in which he roamed the streets pretending to jab people with a syringe. The trick? The syringe was capped and empty. But that detail didn’t save him — or the victims — from absolute panic.
Many onlookers believed the injection was real, triggering fear, disgust, and in some cases medical checkups. The clips spread fast on social media, stoking primal anxieties amid an already tense backdrop: France was in the midst of a wave of reported “needle attacks” — with dozens of people claiming they’d been injected without consent at crowded venues.
Prosecutors argued that, even if Mojito didn’t physically harm anyone, his videos contributed to a climate of terror. They claimed his content “intentionally or not” fanned fear and that it risked normalising such acts of aggression.
Sentenced to Jail
On October 3, 2025, a Paris criminal court found Mojito guilty of “violence with a weapon that did not result in incapacity for work” (because under French law, even an empty syringe can count as a weapon).
His sentence: 12 months in prison, six months suspended, plus a fine and a three-year ban on owning or carrying weapons. In effect, he is expected to serve six months behind bars.
Originally, prosecutors had pushed for a 15-month sentence, including suspension. Many online users decried the final outcome as too lenient. Some pointed out that the psychological trauma inflicted on victims deserved a harsher punishment.
Alors que le phénomène des #piqures en pleine expansion suscite beaucoup de peur chez nos concitoyens « l’influenceur »Amine Mojito trouve drôle de faire semblant de piquer des gens dans la rue avec une seringue.
Inadmissible ! pic.twitter.com/u94keMJH0I— Officiers et Commissaires de police (@PoliceSCSI) June 22, 2025
During the trial, Mojito maintained he didn’t mean real harm. He claimed he was influenced by similar “prank” content from Spain and Portugal, and said he “didn’t think it could hurt people.” He expressed regret, calling the stunt “a very bad idea.”
His defence attorney, Marie Claret de Fleurieu, argued the court’s decision struck a “balanced” tone after the media storm. She also pointed out that Mojito had already spent close to two months in pretrial detention (with time in solitary).
Why This Stunt Was Tone Deaf
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Exploiting public fear during a crisis
This prank didn’t happen in a vacuum. It landed amid a wave of reported syringe incidents during festivals in France, which had already put the country on edge. Reports from the Fête de la Musique showed 145 people claimed they were pricked with needles, and dozens of arrests followed in multiple cities.
In that environment, the stunt wasn’t just a prank — it was a provocation. Many observers argued Mojito deliberately tapped into public anxiety to get views. It’s the difference between entertainment and cruelty.
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The line between prank and assault
Even though no physical injection occurred, the victims’ experience was real. Fear, panic, possible medical checks, trauma — these aren’t trivial. The courts recognized that an empty syringe can still constitute a weapon under French law.
This sets an important precedent: when social media content spills into public life, consequences can follow.
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Clout vs responsibility
Mojito admitted he was chasing content, trying to reignite his social media presence. But taking that ambition onto the streets, risking people’s peace of mind and safety, shows a severe lack of judgment. Many influencers flirt with risky stunts — but this one went beyond the pale.
Another Influencer Fail
Online, reactions were swift and brutal. Many called Mojito’s actions “revolting,” “reckless,” and “dangerously irresponsible.” Some feared the sentence was too mild to deter copycats.
Critics warned that stunts like this could normalize real acts of aggression. What happens when someone imitates this — but uses a real, loaded syringe instead of a capped prop?
For Mojito, this might be a turning point. After serving time, his reputation may be irreparably damaged. He could face difficulty in sponsorships, brand deals, or even returning to the influencer scene. And worse — he’ll carry the stigma of having terrified real people for content.
For the industry, this episode is a warning sign. The race for clicks and viral shock is pushing people to cross lines — legal, ethical, emotional. Audience tolerance is already thin, and regulators are watching closely.
This post is part of our Influencers Gone Wild series.