Marques Brownlee Reckless Driving / Speeding Controversy

About

Marques Brownlee Reckless Driving Controversy, also known as Marques Brownlee Speeding in Lamborghini, refers to criticism levied against YouTube tech reviewer Marques Brownlee (also known as MKBHD) for speeding through a suburban residential zone in mid-November 2024. Brownlee's viewers noted that the speedometer in his footage appeared to be blurred at higher speeds, however, there was a second display in the car showing he was driving 96 in a 35 MPH zone. Brownlee later removed the segment from his video entirely, claiming that it was an unnecessary addition. Internet users accused Brownlee of trying to cover up his mistakes and expressed their disappointment in his being embroiled in another controversy soon after his iPhone Wallpaper App fiasco in October 2024.

Overview

On November 11th, 2024, Marques Brownlee posted a YouTube^[1] video titled, "How My Video Gear is Changing!" The video showed the tech reviewer talking about how he wants to switch up his video-recording gear and try something more portable and versatile, allowing him to film more spontaneously.

At one point in the video, Brownlee shows himself driving a Lamborghini in a residential zone with a 35 MPH speed limit. While MKBHD's speedometer was blurred, the speed at which he was driving could still be seen on the passenger side speedometer of the car, showing him going as high as 96 MPH, roughly three times the speed limit. The segment can be accessed via a reupload posted by YouTube^[2] Code on November 12th, 2024.

Developments

On November 12th, 2024, Redditor^[3] /u/udaraka14 posted to the /r/mkbhd subreddit, writing, "Do better, MKBHD," and showing screenshots of the YouTuber speeding in a residential neighborhood. The post gathered over 1,000 upvotes in two days.

Brownlee cut the segment out of his video on November 12th, pinning a comment that read, "Cut out the unnecessary driving clip that obviously added nothing to the video. I hear all your feedback on sponsored videos too."

Marques Brownlee's Response

Later on November 12th, 2024, MKBHD then posted an apology to his Twitter^[4] / X account, saying that he had removed the segment in the video showing him driving a car "way too fast," and that even though this might seem like he's trying to cover it up, he still thinks that "it's the right thing to do." The post gathered over 66,000 likes in two days.

Online Reactions

Several internet users reacted to MKBHD's video and apology in mid-November 2024 as it spread online, noting that either he or his editor attempted to blur his speedometer before the clip was removed from the video entirely.

For example, on November 12th, 2024, X^[5] user @uwukko posted stills from the video, writing, "crazy how mkbhd pivoted to running over kids at 96mph in 35 zone (while also trying to cover it up) after failing to sell a wallpaper subscription," and gathering over 50,000 likes in two days.

Also on November 12th, X^[6] user @schlizzawg replied to the aforementioned post with a meme showing Brownlee about to hit a child with his car, gathering over 12,000 likes in two days.

On November 13th, 2024, X^[7] user @WajSid posted a meme showing a video game scene of someone driving rashly, joking about MKBHD's reckless driving controversy. The post gathered over 38,000 likes in a day.

Search Interest

External References