A twisted “trash streamer” is becoming worryingly popular in Russia as his sick online contests continue to plunge his desperate followers into shocking depths of humiliation.
Andrey Burim, a 26-year-old better known as Mellstroy, has more than 7.6 million followers on his social media platforms.
Born in Belarus to a working-class family, he claims his twisted career began after a school rejection and a stay in hospital for a concussion.
Since then, he has turned humiliation into profit through his controversial stunts.
The latest included a TikTok contest so depraved it reportedly led to parents “tattooing” their one-year-old baby in a bid to win a free apartment.
Terrifying footage shows the boy screaming as his father holds him down and a woman appears to write “Mellstroy-Game” on the boy’s arm.
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The sickening footage, which was too distressing to publish, was filmed by his own mother.
The parents claimed they were “up to their ears in debt” and desperate to win one of the £45,000 apartments the streamer boasted about giving away to the most scandalous contestants.
“We have decided to give our one-year-old son a tattoo,” the mother said in the clip.
“We have been living in a rental home for three years now and we can’t afford to buy an apartment. We would love to win this competition.”
The images went viral and sparked outrage across Russia.
Ekaterina Mizulina, director of the Safe Internet League, was furious: “The bottom has been reached.
“A family tattooed their one-year-old son to participate in a casino advertising contest.
“The tattoo may not be real, but the baby cries throughout the video.
“We will send the materials to the Investigative Committee.”
He added: “Thousands of teenagers (and even adults) across the country have been damaging and tearing passports, shaving their heads, damaging property and even setting themselves on fire.
“This is only going to get worse: the videos are becoming more brutal and absurd every day. All for the big prizes that the scammer promised.”
Mellstroy, who is often seen dressed in designer clothing or boarding private planes, says he will “buy an apartment a day for every TikToker that I or my team likes.”
Critics say the contest, linked to his online casino project, has unleashed chaos among Russia’s poor and attention-starved.
The self-proclaimed influencer is no stranger to scandals.
His rise was reportedly based on encouraging women to strip and men to fight on his live streams, allegedly fueled by alcohol and drugs.
Model Alena Efremova, then 21, was reportedly assaulted by Mellstroy during a 2020 broadcast, and her face allegedly hit a table as thousands of people watched live.
Blood gushed from his mouth, his braces broke, and his skin tore.
“I am deeply distraught, my limbs tremble, my head breaks,” she said later.
Despite being found guilty of assault, the Moscow vlogger avoided jail and was sentenced to six months of “correctional work” and a fine of just £482.
The clip racked up a staggering 32.5 million views.
Efremova said: “Not a single normal self-respecting person will remain among his audience.”
But millions stayed.
Now, Mellstroy’s brand of degradation has turned into national outrage.
A 17-year-old girl reportedly set herself on fire, a man burned down his house, others jumped half-naked into frozen rivers or destroyed their passports, all to get his attention.
Irina Volynets, a child advocate, warned that Mellstroy “has gotten out of control.”
Vitaly Milonov, deputy chairman of the State Duma Family Protection Committee, called the baby tattoo stunt “absolutely unacceptable.”
He added: “Scammers do all this rubbish for money. You just have to deprive them of the opportunity to make money.”
Once protected by his fame and fortune, he now appears to stay away from Putin’s Russia and reportedly lives as a “nomad” in Europe.
He recently boasted on social media: “I’m chilling in Milan with some big girls.”
Although he has no qualms about showing his private life and talking about his sexual escapades, he has not tied himself to a serious relationship.
In an interview last year, the streamer said he hadn’t had any serious romantic relationships since his school years.
He also said he wanted to start a family and raise children in the foreseeable future.
He was not allowed to travel to Belarus when his father died, fearing the cells of his country’s dictator, Alexander Lukashenko.
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And it appears he is now giving Russia a wide berth as it conflicts with Putin’s traditional values.
His main audience remains Russia, where he seeks to avoid possible arrest.