Newborn Baby 'Plunged' into Snow Over Money... Influencer Faces Backlash

A Russian "millionaire influencer" with 6.99 million subscribers is facing public backlash after throwing his two-month-old baby into a pile of snow. On the 8th (local time), according to Russian daily Izvestiya and others, Sergey Kosenko, famous as a "millionaire influencer," posted a video the day before commemorating the "Russian Christmas" (January 7th according to the Julian calendar), which has sparked controversy.

Sergey Kosenko throwing a baby. [Image source=Captured from Sergey Kosenko's Instagram]

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On that day, Kosenko posted a video on his social media with the phrase "Leo's first flight," showing his son Leo being thrown into a high pile of snow. The baby, dressed in a panda outfit, was thrown high into the air and buried deep in the snow; Leo is Kosenko's son born two months ago. Prior to this, he had announced, "I will create the most popular video on social media," and the video quickly spread online, receiving 68,000 likes and gaining significant attention.

However, the attention was accompanied by harsh criticism from netizens over his "crossing the line" prank. Netizens expressed critical reactions such as "Is this funny? This is child abuse," "He should be stripped of parental rights," and "The wife who allowed the abuse of her son should also be held responsible."

It is common sense to handle a two-month-old baby carefully because their skull is weak and the brain can be damaged. Moreover, concerns were raised that the baby could suffer respiratory arrest or frostbite in the snow. Some even demanded that authorities investigate, saying, "The baby could have died just for the sake of a video."

In response, Kosenko offered the excuse that "a doll was used for filming." A close look at the video shows the baby's face moving, with eyes wide open before being buried in the snow, but netizens' anger grew over this absurd excuse rather than an apology. Some criticized Kosenko's past behavior and even raised suspicions of tax evasion.

Sergey Kosenko driving through the city with his girlfriend hanging on the car roof.
[Image source=Captured from Sergey Kosenko's Instagram]

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Kosenko, known for provocative content, has been involved in several controversies before. In 2021, he posted a video claiming it "proved how much his girlfriend loved him," showing a woman tied to the roof of a car speeding through the city. The woman’s mouth and legs were bound with tape and rope, and her right hand was handcuffed to Kosenko’s left hand.

As a result, Kosenko was caught by the police and fined 750 rubles (about 11,700 won at the time). Despite this, he posted a video of the news coverage of his antics, reacting nonchalantly by saying, "It's unfortunate. I lost 750 rubles." Additionally, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he was criticized for hosting a party with about 50 guests, and for posting videos of riding a motorcycle with a woman into the sea in Bali, Indonesia.

According to Russian media, Kosenko currently resides in Beverly Hills, California, USA. He was born in Hungary and is reported to have operated a retail website.

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