NYC man caught on Ring cam pulling Don Julio bottle from trash to flex for Instagram [VIDEO]
Ring Cam Footage Shows Viral “Flex” Gone Wrong
A man in New York City has gone viral. Surveillance footage showed him retrieving a bottle of Don Julio tequila from a public trash can. Allegedly, he did this to flex for social media. The video was captured on a Ring-style security camera. However, it was shared by the @KollegeKidd account on X. Now, it has racked up over 1 million views within hours of its release.
The short video clip is just under 30 seconds.It, shows the unidentified man casually walking up to an overflowing public trash can. After glancing around, he pulls out a discarded bottle of Don Julio, lifts it up for the camera, and appears to pose with it. Then, he ends up walking off. According to commentary surrounding the video, the man may have staged the act to appear as if he had been drinking the luxury liquor brand.
The moment has been described as a textbook case of “clout chasing.” That’s a term used to describe behavior aimed at gaining social media attention. Often, though, it is done through outrageous or performative actions. So, this man’s actions fall under that category. However, what he did has caused a bigger stir.
Caught in the Act on Ring Camera
The video was recorded by a Ring camera mounted outside a residence or business along a typical New York sidewalk. Trash bags are visible on the curb, and the camera catches a young man—likely in his early 20s—walking up to a trash bin.
Wearing a red and white t-shirt, jeans, and white sneakers, the man glances around before pulling out what appears to be a Don Julio tequila bottle. Its distinctive shape makes it easily recognizable. Despite having just retrieved it from a pile of public garbage, the man holds it up in a proud gesture as if posing for a photo or video. Thus, an unmistakable flex moment for the ’Gram.
Once the moment is captured, he places the bottle back in the trash and casually walks off.
There’s no dialogue from the subject. However, the video is overlaid with a viral remix track that repeats the words “Julio, Julio… I just need a Don.” The audio, seemingly custom-fit for the clip, adds a comedic and ironic tone that underscores the performative nature of the act.
A Glimpse Into Clout-Chasing Culture
This moment, while brief, exposes a broader issue. The desire to appear wealthy, successful, or “lit” on social media has driven some to extreme—and at times, ridiculous—behavior. In this case, the man doesn’t attempt to drink the bottle or take it home. He simply uses it as a prop.
Don Julio tequila, which typically sells for between $50 and $100 depending on the bottle, is often associated with upscale nightlife and status. Flexing with such a brand—even a used or empty bottle—can send a message of affluence in curated Instagram or TikTok posts. As a result, people do what they can to get that look. However, when a person gets caught faking, it opens them for jokes.
But behind the humor, there’s a layer of truth. For some, even the illusion of luxury is enough to feel seen online.
Now, this man is being seen online.
The Internet Reacts
Reaction to the video has been swift and varied. On X, replies ranged from harsh critiques of social media culture to sympathetic takes that highlight underlying socioeconomic struggles.
“Things they do for clout and he put it back in the trash smh,” wrote @305sBabyBoi. Another user, @suttondef, summed it up bluntly: “Clout is a helluva drug.”
Others took a more compassionate view. “Damn ya never been in his shoe and it shows. Let him flex on the gram,” said @Peeziey, while @PPaijuk added, “Imagine being so broke… your priority is to be liked by strangers.”
But by far, the most common reaction was humor. “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure I guess,” joked @MetaJumper_sol. Comments on TikTok and reposts of the video used captions like “He really dug in the trash for Don Julio 😂” and “Recycling with style.”
Online Fame vs. Real-Life Reality
The phrase “clout chasing” has become a staple in digital slang, used to describe individuals who engage in attention-seeking behavior purely for online popularity. In NYC and many other urban settings, presenting a certain image online can carry just as much weight as real-life credibility. This is especially true among younger generations.
The man in this video, referred to as “NYC Yn” (slang for “young N word”), is anonymous for now. No official identification has been made. So, it’s unclear whether the video was staged or organically captured by the Ring cam. But based on his movements and the nature of the video, it appears genuine.
This is not the first time a clip like this has made the rounds. Past videos have shown people staging luxury moments. Therefore, posing with rented Lamborghinis, standing next to designer items they don’t own, and even wearing fake chains or counterfeit brands for the camera.
But this instance feels different because it involves literal trash. The symbolic nature of pulling an expensive bottle out of a garbage bin just to pretend to have it speaks volumes about the cultural divide between reality and what we present online.
From Comedy to Commentary
As the video spreads, the comment sections have morphed from simple jokes to larger conversations. Many viewers are pointing fingers not just at the man in the video, but at the broader system that rewards appearance over authenticity.
“Can’t even rock your own without bum guys lurking… a gold chain, bracelet… is not worth anyone’s life but BLM though right,” wrote one user, indirectly referencing another viral incident, a tragedy. The social commentary is deepening. Therefore, tying this moment to broader concerns around violence, poverty, and social pressure.
Some users also dragged Don Julio itself, saying it wasn’t worth the hype. One TikTok thread sarcastically called the brand “rubbing alcohol with good PR.” Discussions have also surfaced on forums like Boxden, where users questioned why anyone would flex with Don Julio at all.
Cross-Platform Virality
The video’s spread wasn’t limited to X. TikTok picked up the clip, too, with the original post by @KollegeKidd making its way to “For You” pages under hashtags like #nyc, #donjulio, and #funnyvideos.
Forum threads quickly followed, with one Boxden commenter saying, “We’ve all seen people do fake stuff online, but this one is up there.”
Even though the subject’s identity remains unknown, his actions have made him internet-famous. Albeit, briefly. Whether he intended it or not, the Ring camera caught a moment that’s become symbolic of a much larger conversation.