A man making a living by begging on the streets of California is gaining attention on social media thanks to his striking good looks. On the 28th (local time), the UK’s Daily Mail reported that a video of Brad Love, who begs on the roadside in Palm Springs, Riverside, California, has gone viral on TikTok, racking up over 500,000 views. The video shows Brad smiling as he approaches drivers with a cardboard sign, asking for money. Viewers online were captivated by his appearance, leaving comments like, “He’s really handsome.” Some even joked, “He looks like he’s headed to a photoshoot.”

Brad currently has 20,000 followers on TikTok and regularly uploads videos to receive support and donations. Although he has received offers to model, Brad has declined them, saying, “I’m not interested at all,” and added, “I’m satisfied with what I make now.” According to Brad, his daily earnings range from $60 to $100. “I’m a professional beggar,” he said. “I have no interest in modeling or acting. I’m just one of those people who doesn’t want to work.” He went on to say, “It’s not that I can’t get a job — I just don’t want to. I used to be a nurse.”

Following the video’s surge in popularity, local police reportedly stepped in to stop Brad from begging on the street. According to California law, general requests for money are legal, but directly approaching pedestrians to ask for money is considered illegal.

(Dong-A Ilbo, April 30, 2025)