Social media personality, Addison Pierre Maalouf popularly known as YourFellowArab has reportedly been abducted by a notorious gang during his visit to Haiti.
Maalouf, known for his widely-viewed online video content, reportedly found himself in peril after attempting to conduct an interview with Jimmy ‘Barbecue’ Cerisier, a prominent figure in Haiti’s gang underworld, the Daily Mail reports.
Maalouf boasts a whopping 1.4 million subscribers on YouTube, and has frequently shared videos diving into criminality. Some of his most recent videos are titled ‘Day 1 of Living with the Mexican Cartel’ and ‘Hunting Pirates in the Red Sea’.
The alleged abduction occurred on March 14 when Maalouf was seized by members of the 400 Mawozo gang, led by the elusive kingpin Lanmo 100 jou, who currently holds a spot on the FBI’s ‘Most Wanted’ list.
The ransom demand stands at a staggering $600,000, with reports from Haiti24 stating that a portion – approximately $40,000 – has already been paid to the captors.
As well as Maalouf, a Haitian colleague accompanying the YouTuber was also kidnapped by the gang.
Hailing from Lebanese heritage, Maalouf is currently based in Atlanta. On his official website, he proudly describes himself as a “comedian, pro player, and content creator—a true man of the people”.
Amidst the distressing developments, friend and Twitch streamer Lalem confirmed Maalouf’s abduction through a post on X, expressing hope for his imminent release.
“Tried keeping it private for 2 weeks, but it’s getting out everywhere now, Yes Arab has been kidnapped in Haiti and we’re working on getting him out. Love yall he’ll be out soon,” Lalem tweeted to his 35,000 followers.
Lalem also shared Maalouf’s last video from Haiti, where he candidly warned viewers about the perilous conditions in the country and the looming threat posed by armed gangs. The clip can be seen below:
In a tweet prior to his departure, Maalouf reflected on the uncertainty of his journey, acknowledging the inherent risks involved.
“Going on another one of those trips […] If I die, thanks for watching what I’ve put out. If I live, all glory to God,” he tweeted.
