Reckless Ben
Reckless Ben | |
|---|---|
| Born | Benjamin Paul Schneider December 30, 1995 Fairfield, Ohio, U.S. |
| Occupations | Slackliner, YouTuber, independent filmmaker |
| Instagram information | |
| Page | |
| Followers | 90,900 |
| TikTok information | |
| Page | |
| Years active | 2019–present |
| Followers | 569,200 |
| YouTube information | |
| Channels | |
| Years active | 2014–present |
| Genres | Investigative documentaries, social experiments, commentary |
| Subscribers | 1.56 million (main channel) |
| Views | 76.4 million |
| Last updated: July 9, 2026 | |
| Website | www |
| Signature | |
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Benjamin Paul Schneider (born December 30, 1995), better known as Reckless Ben, is an American YouTuber, independent filmmaker, entrepreneur, and slackliner. He is known for producing comedic investigative documentary videos about controversial organizations, businesses, internet personalities, and alleged scams.
Early life
[edit source]Benjamin Paul Schneider[1] is from Fairfield, Ohio. During his teenage years, he became involved in slacklining, and graduated from Fairfield High School in 2014. He was a member of Boy Scout Troop 967 at Sacred Heart Church in Fairfield.[2] He later studied engineering at the University of Cincinnati. While enrolled at the university, he continued participating in slacklining and began documenting many of his activities online. He dropped out of the University when he was three years into engineering school.[3]
Slacklining career
[edit source]In 2018, at age 22, Schneider founded Ascending Slacklines, a company specializing in equipment for slacklining and highlining.[3]
In 2021, Schneider appeared on the television competition series Go-Big Show, where he broke the world record for most flips on a slackline in 60 seconds, and ended up doubling the record at 27.[4][5][6] That same year, Schneider appeared on the Italian reality television program Tú sí que vales.[7][8]
In 2024, Schneider attracted media coverage after filming himself walking a tightrope between two unfinished towers at Oceanwide Plaza in Los Angeles.[9] The stunt prompted an investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department,[10][11] and the video was subsequently removed from YouTube.[12] Schneider wore a duck mask during a later visit to the area.[10]
Investigations
[edit source]In 2019, Schneider received media attention after claiming to have obtained a painting rumored to be the work of street artist Banksy from the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati.[13] The painting had been hung in the gallery without permission by a local artist who claimed to be acting on behalf of Banksy, and it was removed minutes later, being taken to the venue's lost and found. Schneider and two associates were able to claim the painting later in the year after creating a fake eBay receipt suggesting that they owned the artwork.[14][15]
Schneider and his collaborators created "Scientology Sucks", a real religious organization in the state of California and Oregon intended to protest the Church of Scientology.[16][17][18]
Schneider investigated McKamey Manor, an attraction marketed as an extreme haunted-house experience. In a video on his YouTube channel, he alleged that participants were required to sign a non-disclosure agreement containing a stated $50,000 penalty clause, with McKamey also discussing the requirement.[‡ 1][19]
In 2025, Trilogy Media released a video titled Exposing Hollywood's Most Sadistic Director on their streaming platform, TrilogyPlus. The video documents an investigation by Schneider into the filmmaker Lucifer Valentine, known for the Vomit Gore Trilogy. It includes discussion of online claims linking the director's identity to Shawn Fedorchuk.[‡ 2]
Bricks & Minifigs
[edit source]In 2026, Schneider published a series of videos concerning a dispute involving a large Lego collection and a franchise of Bricks & Minifigs (BAM).[20] The videos alleged that corporate personnel involved in terminating the franchise agreement later had ties to the incoming operators; however, those allegations have not been adjudicated in court.[21] On March 27, Schneider was charged with stalking, classified as a Class A misdemeanor, and targeted residential picketing, classified as a Class B misdemeanor.[22] Schneider also alleged that he faced legal issues as a result of police corruption,[20][23] including an incident in which he and members of his team were reportedly swatted in Utah. He further alleged that the franchise's operators, Brandon Best and Joshua Johnson, as well as Bricks & Minifigs chief executive Ammon McNeff, were large donors to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[23] Schneider appeared on an episode of the H3 Podcast.[24]
Filmography
[edit source]Documentaries
[edit source]| Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Trainwreck: Storm Area 51 | Himself |
Television
[edit source]| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Go-Big Show | Himself | Season 1, Episode 4: "Danger, Danger Everywhere" | [4][5][6] |
| 2021 | Tú sí que vales | Himself | Season 8, Episode 4 | [7][8] |
Web series
[edit source]| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | All Gas No Brakes | Himself | Episode: "The Raid of Area 51" | [‡ 3] |
| 2025 | Exposing Hollywood's Most Sadistic Director | Himself | Investigation into the filmmaker Lucifer Valentine. | [‡ 2] |
References
[edit source]- ↑ Shelton, Rob (May 30, 2026). "YouTuber arrested twice by AF police over LEGO dispute". American Fork Citizen. Archived from the original on May 31, 2026. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
- ↑ Kiesewetter, John (May 25, 2019). "My Night With Ninja Warrriors". WVXU. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
- 1 2 Eigelbach, Kevin (June 8, 2018). "Even a broken neck couldn't slow him down". WCPO-TV. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
- 1 2 Go Big Show: Ben Schneider Breaks A World Record (Clip) (Video). TBS. February 19, 2021.
- 1 2 O'Rourke, Jill (February 18, 2021). "'Go-Big Show' Contestant Breaks A World Record In The Semifinals". Talent Recap. Archived from the original on February 16, 2026. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
- 1 2 "Go-Big Show | Pressroom". press.wbd.com. Archived from the original on June 14, 2025. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
- 1 2 Reckless Ben (November 4, 2021). I snuck on another reality TV show. Archived from the original on May 28, 2026. Retrieved June 1, 2026 – via YouTube.
- 1 2 Redazione (November 21, 2021). "Tu Si Que Vales 2021 chi sono i finalisti? L'elenco dei talenti in finale". Dituttounpop.it (in Italian). Retrieved June 1, 2026.
- ↑ "Oceanwide puts graffiti-covered towers up for sale in DTLA". The Real Deal. May 8, 2024.
- 1 2 Sharp, Julie; Caballero, Luzdelia (May 20, 2024). "LA graffiti tower tightrope walker faces LAPD criminal investigation". KCBS-TV. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
- ↑ "Watch: Daredevil walks tightrope between Los Angeles skyscrapers". UPI.comI. Archived from the original on April 28, 2025. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
- ↑ Ryan, Harriet (May 18, 2024). "Tightrope walker is latest problem for downtown L.A.'s graffiti towers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
- ↑ Wiechert, Brian (July 3, 2019). "YouTubers claim they stole rumored Banksy painting from Cincinnati museum". WLWT. Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
- ↑ Manley, Mackenzie (July 12, 2019). "YouTubers Claim to Have Heisted a Banksy Painting from the CAC — and Now the Art Piece is Traveling Cross-Country". Cincinnati CityBeat. Archived from the original on June 1, 2026. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
- ↑ "HEY MISTER, WANNA BUY A BANKSY?". Artillery Magazine. August 7, 2019. Archived from the original on June 1, 2026. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
- ↑ Beschizza, Rob (March 9, 2020). "These guys projected "SUCKS" onto Scientology's Hollywood HQ". Boing Boing. Archived from the original on June 1, 2026. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
- ↑ "My mom is the auditor in the 'Reckless Ben' Scientology infiltration videos | The Underground Bunker". tonyortega.org. Archived from the original on March 3, 2026. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
- ↑ "'Dude Be Careful': TikToker Films Videos of Alleged Scientology Meetings". Newsweek. November 30, 2021. Archived from the original on July 22, 2025. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
- ↑ McCafferty, Elizabeth (October 30, 2024). "'His eye was full of blood': the Halloween house of horrors that became a real-life torture den". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
- 1 2 "Inside the $200K Lego battle: Reckless Ben vs Bricks and Minifigs, 'cult', and legal threats". The Express Tribune. May 27, 2026. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
- ↑ "Keizer Lego Dispute Centers on Star Wars Collection". Salem Business Journal. March 30, 2026. Archived from the original on May 27, 2026. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
- ↑ Ashcraft, Emily (June 2, 2026). "Viral videos allege pricey Lego theft. Here's how Utah police entered the conversation". KSL. Archived from the original on June 3, 2026. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
- 1 2 Roy, Madhurima (May 27, 2026). "Who is Ammon McNeff? Bricks and Minifigs CEO comes under fire as Reckless Ben Patreon lego controversy intensifies". Prime Timer. Archived from the original on May 27, 2026. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
- ↑ Fairfax, Zackerie (June 2, 2026). "Bricks & Minifigs sues Reckless Ben over viral $200k Lego Star Wars investigation". Dexerto. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
Primary sources
In the text, these references are preceded by a double dagger (‡):
- ↑ Schneider, Ben (13 October 2025). McKamey Manor Exposed. YouTube (Video). Archived from the original on 29 May 2026. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
- 1 2 Exposing Hollywood's Most Sadistic Director (Confronted). Trilogy Plus (Video). Retrieved June 1, 2026.
- ↑ The Raid of Area 51 (Video). All Gas No Brakes. September 26, 2019. Archived from the original on May 17, 2026. Retrieved June 5, 2026.