IShowSpeed told fans he was “really Maasai” after taking part in the traditional drinking of cow’s blood during a recent Kenya stream.
The stream in question took place this weekend and saw Speed bringing his signature brand of travel-focused commentary to the Maasai Mara region. Before ingesting cow’s blood mixed with milk, Speed was quick to tuck in a warning for viewers who might not be fond of blood.
“Chat, viewer discretion, you might see blood,” he said. “If you don’t like blood, chat, I recommend leaving the stream. Just saying.”
Later, a guide confirmed the cow from which the blood was being taken would not be killed, then provided a breakdown of what the chat was witnessing.
“So this is the live extraction of blood from a live cow,” the guide explained. “Once they shoot the main vein, the blood has to come out. They have a calabash. … So once the blood is out, they have to put blood here. After putting blood here, they mix with milk. Milk is already inside here. They will mix milk with cow blood and that is a very good dish. For us, the Maasai people, we have only three specific dishes. First, we have the blood, we have the meat, and now we have milk.”
All three sources, the guide added, “are full of protein.”
Shortly before taking his first sip, Speed inquired about what sort of taste he should expect with the experience.
“Chat, I’m about to try cow blood for the first time,” he said. “Holy crap. What’s it taste like, though? Like Cinnamon Toast Crunch or something, like cereal?”
After taking the proverbial plunge, Speed was left with a shocked expression that ultimately gave way to an enthusiastic celebration.
“Chat, I just had blood,” Speed, who remarked that the traditional blend had a “salty” taste to it, said. “I’m really Maasai. I’m Massai!”
Speed then enjoyed a bit more of the blood-and-milk mixture, adding, “It deadass tastes like blood. … Let’s go!”
With his unique approach to the format, Speed, who won Best IRL Streamer at last year’s Streamer Awards ceremony, has managed to bring fans along for a journeys they might not otherwise have been able to take. This aim, in fact, seems to be at the core of Speed’s larger ambitions as a star.
“I’m for the people that can’t travel… I try to give y’all the best experience, I don’t make a cut-down video,” he recently told fans. “I show y’all a live experience. A raw, true experience of me being at that certain location. Whether it’s a country, whether it’s a safari, whatever experience it is. I’m your test dummy.”