YouTube star Spanian has been called out after a social media video captured his true feelings about a fan who approached him in public.
Anthony Lees, 37, better known by his nickname Spanian, was approached by a woman before walking into a pub in Sydney.
She politely said, “You have a YouTube channel, right? My boyfriend watches your videos.”
Spanian walked into the pub without reacting, but was filmed in the slot machine after advice from his cameraman.
“So I should be more social with people because I act like I don’t care?” said Spaniard.
“That’s the problem, brother, I acted exactly how I felt, like I didn’t care.
‘I didn’t ask a question, I didn’t ask about her husband’s viewing habits.
“I have my own life to live, so if I acted like I didn’t care, it’s because I don’t give a damn.
‘Do you think I’m running for Parliament?
“I’m getting out of jail, who do you think you’re looking after, buddy? Get with the program.”
YouTuber Anthony Lees, better known as Spanian, expressed his frustrations at constantly being recognized by fans on the street in a foul-mouthed video
In another video, Spanian explains his frustrations with his fans recognizing him on the street while he was out for the night.
‘I’m not going to stop and take a selfie with everyone who recognizes me.
‘If they are children, I say yes.
“But if they’re adults, you’ll think I’m rude, but I don’t stop for selfies with every 30-year-old I meet.”
Many Aussies slammed Spanian, claiming he was ungrateful to the fans who made him famous.
“Be very careful, the same people can take you out,” said one.
“I saw him in town a few weeks ago, all I said was ‘Hi Spaniard’, and he completely ignored me – he just pretended I wasn’t there,” said another.
“Well, well, well, now he doesn’t want any attention,” a third added.
A fourth said: ‘He can’t handle the fame.’
“If you’re making money off these people, then you should care. ‘Cause you’re going downhill, and so are your socials, and so are your kebabs,” said a fifth.
In his latest venture, the ex-criminal opened a food truck selling kebabs in Sydney.
Spanian with his wife Angela McColl (left) and his food truck business Spanian’s Kebabs (right)
But other Australians were quick to defend him.
‘He is who he is, take it or leave it. He’s just real, which is rare these days,” one person said.
‘For all the crybabies, like Spanjaard wasn’t ten times worse a few years ago. Like he said, who do you think you’re looking at, mate,” a second added.
The Spaniard spent a total of thirteen years in prison before the age of 30 for various crimes, including a ram raid on an ATM, assault and drug distribution.
After his release, he briefly tried a career as a drill rapper before finding a large audience posting videos to YouTube.
He released an autobiography in 2021, but it was quickly scrapped by his publisher due to controversial comments he made about the LGBTQI+ World Pride events, claiming it was pushing an agenda towards children.
In the book he wrote: ‘It’s not as simple as leaving prison and moving on with your life, it stays with you.
“I can’t get rid of it, I am antisocial and don’t follow the outside world at all,” he wrote.