“Seriously unfunny prank call”: Tubbo’s IRL stream turns terrifying after hoax caller triggers armed police response

Tubbo himself has made some statements about a terrifying event that took place on a live IRL stream on the Twitch platform in Brighton, he and his friends were swatted following a fake police report. The British creator was hosting a pub crawl stream on January 31, 2026, when the night took a sudden turn. What began as a lighthearted outing in costume ended with officers entering a packed venue and detaining one member of the group.

The streamer later shared details in a video titled “i was swatted (serious),” explaining that the group had been careful not to disrupt other patrons while moving between bars in the city center. Tension rose at their fourth stop when security began watching them closely. Moments later, police arrived and approached the group directly, escalating what had been an ordinary broadcast into a real world emergency.

Tubbo breaks silence after being swatted during live Brighton IRL stream

According to Tubbo, one of his friends, Bilzo, was placed in handcuffs after authorities received a call claiming he was carrying a knife and drugs. The allegation, he said, was completely false. Officers investigated the claim and found no evidence to support it. Bilzo was released, and the group was cleared of any wrongdoing.

“Someone has done a bit of a seriously unfunny prank call to the police with serious repercussions,” Tubbo said, reflecting on the moment. Though he tried to keep a sense of humor while recounting the event, he admitted the experience was deeply unsettling.

It was later established by police that the call was a hoax. Nobody was hurt, yet the incident shows the increasing threat of swatting in the streaming community. The creators, bystanders, and officers in separated areas might be at risk because of false emergency calls made.

Tubbo told him that streamlining of future IRL will be extra careful, more so when genuine time locations are concerned. The event is one more reminder that pranks on the Internet may go out of control and lead to significant outcomes in real life.