NekNominated man’s smart response
23-year-old accepts notorious internet drinking challenge - but films himself helping homeless people instead
A BORDEAUX man has come up with a novel – and healthier – approach to the current social-media drinking challenge which has led to several deaths in the UK.
Julien Voinson, 23, was given 24 hours to film himself downing an alcoholic drink in one go, post the video to the internet, and challenge three friends to do the same as part of the notorious “NekNomination” game.
However, instead, he was filmed offering sandwiches and bottles of water to a group of homeless people.
He told the newspaper Sud Ouest that, rather than take part in the drinking challenge, he wanted to “make an intelligent and useful video”.
The result is “SmartNomination” and, since Julien’s video was posted to YouTube last week, it has been viewed almost 750,000 times.
And, in keeping with the rules of “NekNomination”, Julien challenged three friends to do “something smart”.
One of them filmed himself offering a homeless woman a meal and donating clothes to charity. Now, social media is abuzz with people filming themselves completing "SmartNomination" challenges.
Julien said that "NekNomination is not a good example for the younger generation”.
He said: “It is not at all flattering for those involved or for those who are nominated. I think it is a shame.”
It is thought three people have died in the UK alone have died after taking part in the social media drinking game.
Bradley Eames, 20, apparently became the third British victim of the deadly internet craze after filming himself downing nearly two pints of gin. His death follows Stephen Brookes, 29, and Isaac Richardson, 20, who both died after completing similar challenges.
The "NekNomination" craze is thought to have originated in Perth, Australia. At first it was a simple drinking game, but as it spread across the world via social media, people have taken on more extreme versions of the challenge.
One video shows a bare-chested man emptying a bottle of beer down a toilet before two friends lower him head-first into the porcelain bowl to lap it up.
Another featured a woman riding a horse into a supermarket and downing a fizzy soft drink.
You can watch Julien’s SmartNomination video here.
Picture: Julien Voinson
