Two people are facing criminal charges after a sideshow erupted mid-stream during IShowSpeed’s visit to West Oakland, an incident that sent the YouTuber scrambling onto a restaurant rooftop while cars did donuts below him.
What Happened During the Oakland Stream
IShowSpeed, whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr., stopped at Hyphy Burger on West Grand Avenue near Market Street on November 25, 2025. It was part of his Speed Does America tour, his massive live-streamed road trip across the United States. Within minutes, hundreds of fans descended on the block.
The intersection turned chaotic fast. Fireworks went off. Lowrider cars rolled in. The crowd started chanting “Speed.” Then several drivers began doing donuts in the street while fans ran toward the moving vehicles.
Speed watched it unfold from the Hyphy Burger rooftop, where he and his team had climbed to get out of the crush below. “Why are they running to the car… are they stupid?” he said during the broadcast. “I can’t watch this.” Eventually, he was forced to leave — though even that took a while, with fans surrounding him for photos as he tried to make his way out.
Who Was Charged and What Are the Charges
The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office announced charges against Axel Cisnerosmentos and Aron Anaya. Both face misdemeanor counts of organizing and facilitating a sideshow, as well as aiding and abetting a speed contest. The two are scheduled to appear for arraignment on May 27 at the Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse in Oakland.
IShowSpeed has not been accused of any wrongdoing. He was a bystander to events he clearly did not want happening around him.
The DA’s Message to Sideshow Organizers
Alameda County DA Ursula Jones Dickson was direct in her statement. “Sideshows are not harmless gatherings,” she said. “These illegal events routinely cause vandalism, reckless driving, injuries, property damage, and pose significant threats to public safety. Individuals who organize, promote, and facilitate these activities will be held accountable.”
The charges come as Bay Area authorities are ramping up enforcement. Just earlier this month, Oakland PD, the San Francisco Police Department, and the California Highway Patrol coordinated a major operation that trapped sideshow participants on the Bay Bridge, seizing 77 dirt bikes and ATVs and making nine arrests. The crackdown is part of a broader push — Oakland passed a sideshow ordinance in June 2023 that made organizing one a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail or a $1,000 fine, though authorities have rarely used it until recently.
This Isn’t the First Time Speed’s Crowds Got Out of Hand
Anyone who follows IShowSpeed knows crowd control has been a recurring problem on his tours. In San Francisco, during the same Bay Area leg, massive crowds followed him through several major landmarks. Earlier on the Speed Does America tour, he was threatened with a rioting charge after a police stop in Dallas. Fans have smashed restaurant windows trying to get to him. A dock collapsed under the weight of people rushing to meet him.
Speed himself has spoken out against fans who endanger others. He called out “weird” fans for driving dangerously near his tour bus during earlier stops. The Oakland clip hit differently though — watching him helpless on a rooftop while an intersection below turned into a sideshow is one of the more surreal moments of his entire streaming career.
What’s Next for Speed
Since the Oakland incident, IShowSpeed has kept the content coming. He completed a Caribbean Tour and racked up nearly 1.92 million concurrent viewers during a Dominican Republic stream — though he later confirmed to fans the numbers had been inflated by viewbots. He’s one of the biggest streamers on the planet right now, and the crowds are only getting larger wherever he goes.
As for the Oakland case, the arraignment on May 27 will be the next major update. Keep an eye on whether the DA pursues any additional charges as Bay Area authorities continue their sideshow crackdown. With IShowSpeed’s history of chaotic fan encounters, it probably won’t be the last time his streams make news for all the wrong reasons.
