He just wanted to take a break on his long tour and ended up in the middle of Nepal's biggest protest.
Some people may be bothered by the fact that so many people now record everything for YouTube or other platforms. But in this case, it was probably more of a blessing that a YouTuber suddenly turned out to be the best journalist on the scene.
While chaos reigned in Nepal and everything was in turmoil, Harry, better known as WeHateTheCold, was able to film the protests unfiltered and up close.
What Happened In Nepal?
The media called it the “Gen-Z-protests.” It all started when the Nepalese government banned numerous social media platforms on September 4. This ban included platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, X, WeChat, YouTube, and LinkedIn. A total of 26 platforms were affected.
Many Nepalese were already frustrated by corruption among government officials and their mismanagement of public funds. The social media ban caused a lot of fear and confusion and was the straw that broke the camel's back.
The lack of social media platforms jeopardizes freedom of expression, the press, tourism, and simply contact with the many Nepalese family members working abroad.
As a result, mainly students and young citizens organized demonstrations, demanding that Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli resign from office.
The protests continued to escalate. Government buildings, media houses, and more were set on fire. And in the midst of the chaos and turmoil, Harry from WeHateTheCold found himself filming the escalation.
Accidental Journalist
Harry had no idea what was going on in Nepal. He was actually still on his tour from Thailand to the UK on two wheels. The YouTuber is known for taking his 10,000 subscribers on various adventures around the world.
To be precise, this is actually his second attempt at the tour. He was on the same tour a year ago, but had to cut it short due to problems with the correct documents. After sorting everything out, he set off again from Thailand.
He only wanted to make a stopover in Kathmandu and send his bike to Nepal so he could continue the tour from there. But, unaware of what was happening, he found himself in the middle of the protests.
@wehatethecold 1st day in Kathmandu... On my trip from Thailand to the UK on 2 wheels, I was going to ship my bike to avoid Pakistan due to India conflicts. Came to Kathmandu to ship and landed right in protests and curfew.
original sound - wehatethecold
After a while, Harry got off his bike and became the cameraman on site. When tear gas and live ammunition were fired, he ran away with other Nepalese people and was able to report live on what was happening.
In his videos, it is particularly noticeable that he engages with the Nepalese and talks to them. He emphasizes above all the kindness of the citizens, who not only informed him but also supported him. After the protests, he returned to his moped and found that it had not been damaged in any way.
@wehatethecold Only in Nepal... how was it still here when I got back? Riots everywhere and bike just sitting there like she's new. With an extra gift!
original sound - wehatethecold
Harry's civic courage and bravery were widely praised on social media. His YouTube subscriber count rose to 500,000. The comments section is full of jokes about how Harry has become a journalist, whether he wanted to or not.
He didn't choose journalism. Journalism chose him.
He subsequently became a local legend in Nepal as well. Many citizens recognize him, even though he had very little reach just a few days ago. They approach him on the street and celebrate him.
Consequences For Nepal
As already mentioned, not only were buildings set on fire, but the police also fired live ammunition. According to the latest reports, this resulted in 72 deaths and over 2,100 injuries. K.P. Sharma Oli and several government ministers resigned and fled the country.
However, the ban on social media was lifted and Nepalese lawyer and politician Sushila Karki became the first woman to lead the country. Her tasks now include restoring law and order, repairing damaged buildings, and working through the violence of the past week.
After her appointment, Karki visited many of the injured in hospitals. According to representatives of the transitional government under Sushila Karki, every family that lost a family member in the protests will receive financial compensation of 1 million Nepalese rupees, the maximum amount permitted by law (equivalent to around 7,000 Dollars in September 2025).
Nepal seems to be slowly returning to calm. What do you think about the protests? Did you see the videos from WeHateTheCold?