A video capturing Filipino-American YouTuber and travel vlogger “The Lost Joy”, Joey Weber—according to his Instagram account— being mistreated in Pokhara, Nepal, has taken the internet by storm. Posted on March 8, 2025, the footage, which shows a tense confrontation during a picnic near the scenic Himalayan tourist spot, has racked up 493,000 views on YouTube in just three days, with millions more across social media platforms.
In the video, the American vlogger arrives at a picnic spot where some attendees warmly offer him food. However, the situation quickly escalates when another individual approaches, scolding him and insisting that free food shouldn’t be given out. The person demands that if the vlogger doesn’t pay, he’ll be forced to wash all the picnic’s dishes. The individual even warns him to delete the recording. Feeling insulted, “The Lost Joy” attempts to pay for the food before leaving, offering up to 1,000 Nepali rupees—an amount far exceeding its actual cost. Despite this, the other picnickers refuse his money and apologize for the incident, after which the vlogger departs.
“The Lost Joy,” who has posted over a dozen videos celebrating Nepal’s beauty on his channel, saw this latest upload explode online over the weekend. Describing himself as a “Fil-Am Vlogger Going Around The World With His Tiny Camera,” the vlogger had previously earned a loyal audience by highlighting Nepal’s stunning landscapes.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage among viewers, with many targeting the man who confronted the vlogger. In response, numerous Nepalis have taken to social media to apologize to “The Lost Joy.” The individual involved, Jibanath Baral, later posted a video apology, clarifying that the encounter occurred over a year ago. He insisted he never meant to mistreat a foreign visitor and expressed remorse for the situation.
“The Lost Joy” responded, saying: “Greetings to all my Nepalese people. I appreciate all the love from you guys and everything you have been doing—much love. But please understand that I didn’t mean to hurt the guy in the video. Please do not threaten his family or invade his privacy. I don’t intend to harm anyone. I understand your frustrations with him, but please don’t attack him. I just want to share what the stupa represents—positivity, respect, and the path to enlightenment. Please share this post! I’m only active on YouTube and Instagram. I don’t see other posts on different platforms, but please spread this message so others can see it. Much love, and thank you.”
Two days prior, he had written: “Hello guys, I just want to say that in my recent video, I appreciate all your support. I’m not hating on that guy or using him for content. Before I went there, I asked them if it was okay to share food. I always ask for permission before recording as well. Don’t worry, guys—Nepal will always be my favorite country. Much love.”
Susan Shrestha
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