Keith Castillo, a social media influencer known online as “povwolfy,” posted a viral Thanksgiving video on TikTok and Instagram showing him handing out 18-inch machetes and alcohol to homeless people in Austin and New Orleans — a bizarre stunt that racked up more than 14 million views.
“Here, want one of these?” Castillo says in the video as he hands one of the deadly weapons to a homeless man.
“Hell yeah, man,” he responds as he accepts the free blade.
Another woman, who is also homeless, asks for “one more.”
A caption in the video reads, “Keeping the homeless in the streets,” seemingly mocking those without shelter. In another clip posted on Nov. 22, Castillo is seen handing out four unwrapped machetes and bottles of vodka to people along an unnamed back road in New Orleans. In a Nov. 20 post, the influencer handed out seven machetes — which he called “big ass swords” — claiming it would help keep homeless people safe.
The stainless steel Gordon-brand machetes were still wrapped in packaging. Castillo told The New York Post he purchased them in bulk from online retailer Harbor Freight for less than $5 each. He also claimed the blades were meant to help them.
The 29-year-old told The Post he’s on a nationwide tour that began in October and is currently in Little Rock, Ark., where he is again “handing out alcohol and machetes to the homeless.”
“I have like 30 machetes in my car right now,” he said with a laugh. “Dude, they’re cheap. I travel around, bulk record in one city and then for my safety go to another city, do the same thing there for like two weeks and kind of like travel around.”
So far, he’s armed homeless folks in Austin, New Orleans, and Little Rock — but he has plans for Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and even New York.
“I should be in New York in January, I have a lot of friends out there,” he said. “Go hand out a bunch of machetes and fireballs there, too.” The fireballs he referred to are one-ounce bottles of 66-proof Cinnamon whisky.
Critics online have condemned the stunt, but the Corpus Christi, Texas native said he checked with police about giving out machetes and was told it wasn’t illegal. He also insisted he’s doing nothing wrong and believes the homeless recipients won’t use the blades to harm him or anyone else.
“These are for, like, tool purposes. They have zero intent for what people are claiming they want to do with the [machetes],” Castillo claimed.
When he was pressed about handing out alcohol to potential substance abusers, he responded: “Honestly I really don’t care bro, it’s good for the clicks and views, you know. Gotta do what we have to do so we eat.”
Law enforcement experts also commented on the egregious act, though the NYPD did not comment on the coming stunt or its legality.
“That sounds like a cocktail for disaster — alcohol and machetes. Could we get any dumber?” said retired NYPD Sgt. and John Jay College of Criminal Justice professor Joseph Giacalone, who added that “possession of a machete isn’t against the law.”
Yeah, this is going on in the real world. Send to your Democratic leadership if you’re upset by this. https://t.co/BM27SlxnOc pic.twitter.com/3gt41SqfpN
— RetiredinCal (@kvl01) November 18, 2025
Keith Castillo, who goes by “povwolfy,” has been walking around Austin and New Orleans handing out machetes and alcohol to homeless people
This will not end well https://t.co/qPtwKIU93y
— Kenny Webster (@KennethRWebster) November 30, 2025
@povwolfyFeeding the homeless ❤️ blessed to be able to support people in need during these tough times 🙏♬ original sound – Wolfy
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