Imagine posting a video on YouTube and forgetting about it, only to return months later to find it overwhelmed with hate comments—from people halfway across the globe.
That’s exactly what happened to YouTuber Alicia in the Mountains.
On 16 October 2024, Alicia was startled when her four-month-old video suddenly became the target of hate from students in Singapore.
The flood of angry comments wasn’t because the video had gained viral traction but due to a misunderstanding during the recent GCE ‘O’ Level English Listening Comprehension (LC) exam.
The Source of the Confusion: A Case of Mistaken Identity
The confusion began when students sitting for the LC exam stumbled upon Alicia’s video, which they mistakenly connected to a passage from their test.
The exam featured a narrative about a character named Alicia Hopwood, who was preparing to hike the Appalachian Trail—coincidentally, the exact theme of Alicia’s YouTube video.
The uncanny resemblance between the exam’s passage and Alicia’s content led many students to believe that her video had something to do with the challenging exam they had just endured.
The 27-minute video, in which Alicia discusses her hiking preparations, seemed all too familiar to the students, especially after grappling with what they described as a difficult listening section of the exam.
Frustrated by the exam’s difficulty, many students sought solace online and, in their search, landed on Alicia’s video.
According to Viewstats, the video initially had fewer than 4,000 views, but it soared to around 42,000 views in just three days.
Misinterpreting her as being connected to the voiceover or the exam content, they vented their frustrations by flooding her comment section with hateful messages.
Some comments were extreme, with one stating in Mandarin, “Don’t let me find you,” and another in Malay reading, “Go and die ah.”
A few even warned her against visiting Singapore, suggesting she would be “hunted.”
Wait, what?
Alicia Responds to the Unexpected Hate
Waking up to an influx of hostility, Alicia was understandably confused.
However, she quickly understood and addressed the issue, leaving a comment on her video to clarify that she had no involvement in the exam. “I can assure you that wasn’t my voice in the voiceover, and I had nothing to do with how hard your exam was,” she wrote.
Alicia also pointed out that her surname was not Hopwood, dismissing any possible connection to the exam beyond pure coincidence.
Though some students continued to lash out, others stepped in to apologise and explain the mix-up.
Alicia expressed her appreciation for the apologies and showed empathy towards the students, acknowledging the pressure and stress of exams. “I can understand how stressful and difficult exams are. I am sorry this particular voiceover that was similar to my story was difficult,” she wrote, making it clear she held no ill will.
Despite the bizarre incident, Alicia maintained a positive outlook. Not only did she wish the students luck in their upcoming exams, but she also teased the possibility of visiting Singapore. She also hinted at a potential Singapore travel vlog.
But where is she going to hike? VivoCity ah?
Here’s a simplified summary of the South Korea martial law that even a 5-year-old would understand:
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