A video featuring a New York City street prankster has gained traction this week. This individual, known for startling unsuspecting pedestrians, jumps from oil drums and has a peculiar fixation on dessert.
The clip, which racked up over a million likes on Instagram, showcased his antics, though it seems he misjudged one of his targets.
In the video, the prankster, dubbed Cornman, was hiding in a bright orange oil drum. He leapt out, yelling at a larger man dressed in workout gear strolling in the Financial District.
The startled pedestrian reacted with confusion, asking, “What the hell? What are you guys doing?”
Just as Cornman was gearing up to scare someone else, the muscular man swiveled around and delivered a swift kick, knocking Cornman to the ground.
The video cut off as Cornman gave chase down the street.
Viewers on social media celebrated the unexpected turn of events.
User chuckyblac_ remarked, “That kick was obvious, guys didn’t play,” earning over 101,500 likes.
Another user expressed, “Oh my god, that kick was amazing.” A commenter named Bargain Bintachi Shan gleefully stated, “Finally one of them turned out the way I wanted it to.”
In subsequent posts, Cornman claimed that he “handled” the aftermath off-camera, although he’s made similar claims in the past.
In a video shared in November 2024, he startled an elderly man in a Brooklyn neighborhood. When the man reacted poorly, Cornman pretended to throw punches as he walked away.
Another clip featured a pedestrian in Union Square countering Cornman with a karate chop.
His targets have varied widely, including an elderly woman outside a mall, a tourist in Times Square, and everyday commuters, many of whom simply fled in panic.
Efforts to reach Cornman for comment were unsuccessful.
