A man and a woman described as influencers have drawn widespread criticism online after a video appeared to show them taking photos in an ambulance in West Hollywood, California, as paramedics prepared to transport a patient. When a passer-by asked them to move aside, the pair appeared irritated by the request, even as the stretcher carrying the patient was being brought to the vehicle.
What the video shows
The footage, posted on social media, shows a man dressed in white posing at the entrance of the ambulance with a cigarette in his mouth, while a woman accompanying him takes photographs. Nearby, paramedics can be seen preparing a patient for transport.
At the same time, the stretcher carrying the patient was arriving at the ambulance so that the transfer to hospital could begin.
Intervention by a passer-by
When a man asked the pair to move away, both appeared annoyed at being challenged. The man appears to physically move them aside as paramedics arrive with the patient on a gurney, and the couple exchange a few words with him before walking away. The couple looked displeased at the intervention but slowly moved back towards the pavement, after which the patient was loaded into the ambulance.
How the clip spread
The video was shared on Reddit, where it went viral on 30 September. The post's caption mocked the pair, contrasting their efforts with those of influencers attending Milan Fashion Week.
Reaction online
The clip drew the attention of a TikToker known as @Daadi, who has become known on the platform for criticising the erratic behaviour of influencers. He described the incident as an example of "peak influencer dystopia".
Welcome to West Hollywood.https://t.co/QIIjYRPP4A pic.twitter.com/oZ0y0kRuAc
— NYC EMS Watch (@NYCEMSwatch) October 1, 2026
Other viewers pointed to the safety risk posed by the man's cigarette near the compressed oxygen tanks carried in ambulances, which are highly combustible.
What California law provides
In his video, the TikToker cited Section 148 of the California Penal Code, which provides that anyone who delays or obstructs police officers or emergency workers in the performance of their duties may face a fine of $1,000 or up to one year in prison.
Under state rules, obstructing or hindering emergency vehicles and personnel responding to a call is a misdemeanour, punishable by up to one year in county jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
Identity and consequences
The identity of the pair remains unknown, and it is not clear whether they have faced any consequences.
