Mukbang videos are hugely popular, but they are questionable – especially when others suffer as a result.
A first-class mukbang has sparked controversy: Korean YouTuber Yuno ordered food and snacks more than 20 times during a long-haul flight. Following criticism over the additional workload placed on the flight attendants, he deleted the video and publicly apologized.
Korean creator Yuno makes "mukbang" content on YouTube. These videos revolve around consuming enormous portions of food within a short period of time – similar to the videos once made by the controversial Foodie Beauty. And it seems that plenty of people enjoy watching him, which is why he wanted to make a special video for his 780,000 subscribers – during a roughly 15-hour flight, of all places.
To do so, he made extensive use of the first-class dining options and filmed himself repeatedly ordering new dishes. In total, Yuno is said to have placed more than 20 orders during the flight. His menu included seven servings of ramen, as well as salad, bread, fruit, sandwiches, cheese, and tiramisu.
Viewers Criticize YouTubers In-Flight Behaviour
After the video was published, it quickly sparked a heated discussion. Numerous viewers accused Yuno of unnecessarily keeping the flight attendants busy with his many orders. The production of the video may also have disturbed other passengers in the first-class cabin.
Yuno later explained that he had asked the crew before filming whether recording was permitted. He also said that he tried to film mainly at times when the other passengers were being served food or snacks as well.
Nevertheless, the YouTuber admitted that he had misjudged the situation. After all, permission to film did not automatically mean that such a large number of additional orders would not pose a problem for the crew.
Yuno Deletes The Video And Apologizes
Following the growing backlash, Yuno eventually published a detailed apology in the Community section of his YouTube channel and removed the original video.
In his statement, he explained that he had been too focused on producing fresh, attention-grabbing content. As a result, he had not given enough thought to the additional work his numerous orders might create for the flight attendants or to how other passengers might react to the filming.
He also acknowledged that the video's particularly sensational presentation and thumbnail had made the situation even worse.
Yuno apologized directly to the crew in particular. Despite his many requests, the flight attendants had remained friendly until the end. In hindsight, he said he had relied too heavily on their friendliness and continued pushing the limits with his requests.
Mukbang Content Repeatedly Sparks Controversy
The incident once again shows how quickly the pursuit of spectacular content can become a problem for creators. Mukbang videos often rely on unusual quantities of food, special locations, or increasingly extreme challenges.
In Yuno's case, however, the main criticism was that the video also involved people who were simply trying to do their regular jobs. As a result, the more than 20 orders were perceived less as an extraordinary first-class test and more as an additional burden on the cabin crew.