3-Rumors are circulating surrounding controversial YouTuber Vitaly Zdorovetskiy's brutal prison stay in the Philippines, as what was originally a lengthy sentence has seemingly been cut short as rumors circulate that he's joined a 'powerful cult'.
Vitaly Zdorovetskiy is one of social media's most notorious pranksters, and he's earned himself a rather unsavory reputation over the years after he first emerged into the spotlight during the World Cup final in 2014.
He has been arrested on a number of occasions over the years in relation to his often outrageous public stunts, yet he appeared to finally meet his match earlier this year following a new set of pranks in the Philippines.
Zdorovetskiy found himself in 'jail hell' in what has turned out to be a several-year long sentence that some speculate could stretch beyond two decades, after authorities appear to be making an example out of the YouTuber for his antics.
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His current rap sheet accuses the influencer of stealing a security guard's patrol motorcycle, stealing a firearm, threatening to rob someone in public, reckless driving, stealing from a McDonald's, and far more.
Updates since he entered prison have shown Zdorovetskiy fear that he 'might die' in jail as he's been subjected to horrific conditions during his short stay so far, yet some new rumors appear to suggest that he's achieved an early exit, linking the process to a 'powerful cult'.
As shared by the International Business Times, a new TikTok video shared by 'famehunted' appears to claim that Vitaly has been quietly released from prison and has taken a flight back to Los Angeles after undergoing a religious conversion while in custody, prompting an intervention that secured his departure.
They claim that he allegedly underwent a private spiritual 'evaluation' and separate baptism inside the prison, and that he has been seen at Manila airport on the morning of December 4, preparing to leave the country.
An unnamed legal representative of Zdorovetskiy allegedly passed on a message from the YouTuber, stating: "I have changed my path."
However, there are no further documents, legal information, or footage outside of this specific TikTok that support the claims put forward, leaving many to speculate its veracity.
Additionally, publicly available court data from the Philippines shows no sign that Vitaly has even been sentenced or undergone a criminal trial, let alone been released from custody, and no statements have been made from any global authority, and there is no clear evidence that the controversial social media star has been involved in any religious conversion.
"He got 10 years, he's not getting out," writes one commenter who remains unconvinced, whereas another adds that they'll "believe it when I see it."