When Wasting Food Becomes Entertainment

 

Rakai (far left), a Twitch streamer and content creator, slams a turkey onto a dining table as others watch and record. (Screenshot from YouTube)

Social media has reached a point where almost anything can become entertainment, including wasting perfectly good food. During a livestream involving streamers Rakai and Deshae Frost, Rakai was seen throwing food around at Deshae's family home. While some viewers might have found the situation funny, I think it raises a bigger question: Why has wasting food become something people are willing to do just to entertain an audience?

Watch the clip: Rakai and Deshae Frost Thanksgiving

I'm not saying every joke involving food is a serious problem. People mess around, and sometimes things get out of hand. However, there's a difference between accidentally wasting food and deliberately treating it like something disposable because people are watching. When influencers do this on camera, they're turning wastefulness into part of the entertainment.

What bothers me most is how disconnected this kind of content can feel from the reality that many people face. There are families who struggle to afford groceries, students who skip meals to save money, and people experiencing homelessness who don't know where their next meal will come from. Seeing perfectly good food thrown around for laughs feels especially unnecessary when food insecurity remains a real problem.

Of course, one livestream isn't responsible for food insecurity, and stopping influencers from wasting food wouldn't solve hunger. But that doesn't mean their actions are meaningless. Content creators have audiences who watch, imitate, and sometimes admire what they do. When reckless behavior gets rewarded with views and attention, it can encourage more of the same.

I think influencers should be more aware of the message their content sends. They don't have to stop joking around or making entertaining videos, but there are plenty of ways to entertain people without wasting food. Something that might seem like a small joke to one person can look very different to someone who struggles to put food on the table.

Another concern I have is the influence this kind of content can have on younger viewers. While I don't know the exact age demographics of Rakai's audience, his content is accessible to teenagers, and I worry about the example being set when wasting food becomes something people laugh at and celebrate.

At the end of the day, food shouldn't be treated as a disposable prop just because a camera is recording. We can enjoy entertaining content while still questioning whether certain behavior deserves to be celebrated. Having the resources to waste something doesn't necessarily mean we should.

Instead of treating food as something disposable, we should think about how even small actions can make a difference. Whether it's reducing food waste at home or supporting organizations that provide meals to people in need, there are ways we can help.

If you're interested in making a difference, check out Feeding America to learn more about food insecurity and ways to help.