Instagram star Chrogman goes viral after filming fights against his own followers

A viral social media challenge laid down by an Adelaide influencer has seen him fighting his followers at venues ranging from Parliament House to the Eiffel Tower.

The escapades of a young Adelaide man posting videos of himself fighting his social media followers are attracting millions of views around the world.

But the public boxing bouts have sparked an angry response from the founder of anti-violence charity Sammy D Foundation, who says it’s never ok to promote fighting on social media.

The influencer, who goes by the Instagram handle of Chrogman, issued the challenge to “fight a random follower” in Adelaide and his audience has since skyrocketed.

His latest video of a fight in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, during which he appears to be dressed like Batman’s nemesis The Joker, has been viewed more than 35 million times.

His Instagram account has more than 530,000 followers, less than two months after he posted his first reel on April 3.

Chrogman fights one of his followers in Paris. Picture: Instagram

Videos of his fighting challenge show him approaching other men in public places, initially in Adelaide but then in Melbourne, Sydney and Paris. Both men wear boxing gloves and they trade blows, often to the head, until either one of them is knocked to the ground or they agree to stop.

Chrogman, who has not been charged with any wrongdoing, announced the concept of posting fights on social media on April 13.

“If you don’t like me, let’s f..king box,” he said in an Instagram reel.

“If you don’t like me and you want to fight me, come down, and I will f..king absolutely give you a shot at trying to beat me the f..k up.

A fight on the lawns of Parliament House, Canberra. Picture: Instagram

“Guys, I know there are a few of you in the comments that don’t like me... come down and let’s f..king box. I’m so down. Only thing is I have to be able to put it on my YouTube.”

The next day he posted another reel doubling down on his initial challenge.

“I’m on my hands and knees,” he said. “Please fight me... somebody. If you see this, and you don’t like me, please comment in the comments saying you hate me, you want to kill my family or whatever...

“I just want to put it on my YouTube. I don’t care what weight you are, height you are. I don’t care if you’re transgender, black, Asian, anything else out there.”

On April 15 he told his followers he had ideas that would change the world, but he needed funding.

Chrogman prepares for a fight in Sydney. Picture: Instagram

“Please send me all your money and I will send you back nothing in return,” he posted.

“Guys, I’m feeling good today – a couple of dudes want to run the fade (fight him).

“I’m setting up some appointments for that. They’re probably all going to beat me the f..k up because half of them are actually boxers, so get ready to see that.”

His first fight, on April 16 on a suburban Adelaide street, resulted in him being knocked to the ground after a punch to the head but he delivered a similar blow against his next opponent the following day at a local football oval.

Chrogman has attracted 500,000 followers for a series of reels in which he fights his followers. Picture: Instagram

On April 23, two days after his fourth fight, he posted a reel telling followers his parents had told him he would be kicked out of home if he continued the challenge.

“Needless to say, I’m now homeless,” he said. “Guys, I’ll be moving to Melbourne very shortly. If anyone has a place for me to stay, that would be greatly appreciated.”

He has since posted videos of fights in Melbourne, Sydney and on the lawns of Parliament House, Canberra before announcing a six-country European tour, starting in France, of what he has dubbed the “Chrogman fade series”.

Sammy D Foundation founder Neil Davis, whose son Sam died after a one-punch attack in 2008, urged Chrogman to stop the series of videos.

Sam Davis, who died after a blow to the head at a private party in Brighton.

“Just realise the consequences of your actions and realise the impressionable young people that are watching this that it (fighting) is okay... it’s never okay,” Mr Davis said.

“If the worst thing that could happen, happens while you’re doing this, how would you live with yourself for the rest of your life?”

Mr Davis said the Sammy D Foundation worked hard in schools educating young people about the dangers of fight clubs and blows to the head.

“Then you’ve got idiots like this plastering it all over Instagram,” he said. “I don’t know why Instagram leaves them up there to tell you the truth. It’s just horrific.”

The Advertiser has reached out to Chrogman for comment.

Originally published as Instagram star Chrogman goes viral after filming fights against his own followers