Influencer Dares Woman Who Can’t Swim to Jump In Lake Before Running Away and Laughing

An influencer named Natalie Reynolds has sparked outrage after daring a woman who couldn’t swim to jump into Lady Bird Lake in Austin during a May 29 livestream, then fleeing when the woman cried for help. Reynolds, participating in a scavenger hunt and offering rewards to viewers, reportedly paid the woman $20 to dive into the lake. The woman, who followed Reynolds’ dare, soon realized she couldn’t swim and began yelling for help. Reynolds and her friends laughed and denied responsibility before leaving the scene.

In a video clip from the incident, the woman can be heard saying, “You said it was OK. You told me to jump in,” to which Reynolds giggled and replied, “No I didn’t.” As the woman struggled in the water, Reynolds became concerned, stating, “Stop, seriously, you’re actually freaking me out. I’m going to f***ing kill myself. She says she’s drowning,” before leaving the area.

The video cuts to Reynolds and her friends in a car, visibly worried as a fire truck arrives at the scene. The Austin Fire Department later confirmed that firefighters were called to provide medical assistance and pulled the woman from the lake. Her condition and the nature of the medical assistance required were not disclosed.

Social media users condemned Reynolds for the stunt, calling it irresponsible and dangerous. Comments included, “Disgusting display from this streamer and her production team. Taking advantage of people for your content is crazy & irresponsible,” and calls for her account to be reported. Reynolds defended herself on X (formerly Twitter), claiming she was kicked out of the location and stating, “She was floating not sinking.”

This incident is not Reynolds’ first controversy; she was previously kicked out of a gym for wearing “painted pants.” The backlash from this latest stunt underscores the ongoing concerns about the ethics and safety of content created for social media views.