Vault: Real or Staged? The Worst Parent Video on the Internet

Summary

The Bert Show: “Vault: Real or Staged? The Worst Parent Video on the Internet”

Date: March 9, 2026
Main Cast: Bert (A), Kristin, Abby, Cassie, Tommy, Wendy (D), Jen (D), Katie, Callers

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Episode Overview

This episode centers on a viral and highly controversial video circulating online which shows a man swinging a baby around in a way that prompts both horror and disbelief—in particular, the cast debates whether the video is authentic or staged. The hosts and callers analyze the footage closely, discuss the potential dangers, speculate about the people involved, and explore the ethical implications of sharing such content. The broader question: is it real or CGI fakery, and what does it say about viral culture and parental responsibility?

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Initial Reactions to the Video

• Bert introduces the topic, quoting listener emails expressing outrage and concern:
  • “The worst parent video on your website is the most appalling video I’ve ever seen. Scares me to death that some dumbass would find this funny and copy this life-threatening act.” – (A) [00:05]
• Multiple cast members watch the video together. Immediate consensus: shock and discomfort, with deep concern for the child’s safety.
• Bert and Katie’s first thoughts: disbelief and dread.
  • “First reaction…this can't be real. And then the second reaction…just dread of what we're about to see.” – Bert (A), Katie (B) [00:34]

2. Description and Analysis of the Footage

• The video shows a man playing music and swinging what appears to be an 8–10 month old baby in increasingly extreme ways, including by one arm in a seemingly impossible fashion.
  • “He just starts swinging him around to the music as though this is some circus act.” – Bert (A) [02:48]
  • “We're talking about taking the baby by one arm and swinging them all the way around in a clockwork motion.” – Bert (A) [02:59]
• Wendy and Jen express horror as they witness the escalating actions on screen.
  • "Oh my God. He just keeps going with it." – Wendy? (D) [03:33]
• Both Wendy and Jen are visibly disturbed, with Jen needing to look away.

3. Authenticity: Real or Staged?

• Debate erupts: is the video a CGI fake or horrifyingly real?
• Bert notes odd video outlines as possible signs of green screen effects.
  • “You know how sometimes when you're watching the weather…there’s a little glow right around his head and his shoulders…If you look really closely at that, it looks like that might be around the baby.” – Bert (A) [04:02]
• Katie hopes it’s fake, but regardless: “It’s not funny. Even being fake, it’s just…not funny to joke about.” – (B) [04:31]
• Technical faults are dissected (angles, unnatural movement), but some callers believe the child’s behavior and the way it crawls up makes the video more likely to be real.

4. Child Safety & Potential Harm

• Many hosts and callers worry deeply about the potential for injury, citing real risks such as dislocated shoulders and shaken baby syndrome.
  • “Do you know how easy it would be to dislocate that baby’s arm or him slip out your hand and go through the wall?” – Brandon (E) [04:43]
• Concerns extend to long-term harm: “By the time the child gets into sixth grade…and can’t pick up a crayon because its shoulder’s destroyed.” – Kristin? (C) [07:03]
• Emotional responses range from anger at the adult in the video to sadness for the child.

5. Cultural Context and Possible Explanations

• A caller (Olga) speculates the music is Russian and the family may have circus/acrobat roots.
  • “The music he’s actually throwing his baby around to is Russian…. So I’m thinking maybe he’s in Russia and probably most likely in circus.” – Olga (F) [05:16]
• Several point out—as a possible (but not acceptable) explanation—that the baby might be trained as an acrobat from infancy.
  • “If it’s real, this baby comes from, like, a family of acrobats in a circus. And they're sort of training him early.” – Bert (A) [05:33]

6. Listener Engagement & Wider Ethics

• Listeners call in with their own takes. Some remember their parents tossing them—but note that swinging a baby by their hands/arms is never okay, and this way is far beyond normal ‘play.’
• Discussion highlights a broader plea for responsibility and digital ethics, with worries about copycat behavior and a lack of official investigation into the matter.
  • “Even if it’s not in this country…there are laws and there are police…and there are defects all over the world. So I can't believe this hasn't been investigated.” – Bert (A) [08:33]
• At the time of broadcast, the original website hosting the video is asking for help in identifying the adult for authorities to intervene.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “What concerns me is, even if it’s a fake…I just don’t want some dumbass to copy this video and think this is a thing to do. Most people, common sense will tell you absolutely not…but there’s always one idiot out there.” – Bert (A) [01:44]
• “It hurts me, and it makes me angry at him.” – Kristin (B) [07:07]
• “I hope that this is fake because that is sick.” – Jen (D) [03:55]
• “The baby knew exactly what was going to happen because he crawled over there like he was expecting it… with his mouth open, and you can’t tell whether he’s laughing or crying.” – Jennifer (caller, G) [07:42]
• “I'm going to choose to believe it's fake because I don't know how any father could think that that was okay with his kid and then tape it.” – Bert (A) [09:27]
• “Original hosting site… says up there, if anyone knows who this person is, please contact us so we can contact the authorities. So they're still looking.” – Kristin? (C) [09:33]

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Key Timestamps

• [00:05] – Listener feedback and initial reactions
• [02:45] – Description of the video content
• [03:33] – Real-time reactions from Wendy and Jen watching
• [04:02] – Technical analysis: green screen or real?
• [04:43] – Brandon caller: concerns about physical danger
• [05:16] – Olga caller: Russian music and acrobat/circus background suggested
• [06:06] – Doubts about authenticity: movement and angles
• [07:03] – Discussion of long-term harm potential
• [07:42] – Jennifer caller: comparing this to normal parental play
• [08:33] – Cross-cultural legal/ethical concerns
• [09:33] – Hosting site requests help identifying the adult

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Conclusion

The episode provides a raw, unsparing look at the rapid spread of disturbing viral content, highlighting the cast’s and listeners’ shock, moral outrage, and deep concern for both immediate and downstream harms. While technical questions about authenticity are raised, the consensus is that either outcome is deeply troubling—real or fake. The hosts implore their audience to use common sense, resist imitation, and encourage authorities to act when welfare is at risk. The conversation is emotionally charged, candid, and reflects the Bert Show’s blend of authenticity, humor, and social conscience.

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For more details on this or other episodes, visit thebertshow.com

Transcript

[A]

The bird show. All right, on to this video. We're gonna have Wendy and Jen watch this in just a second. These are just parts of some of the emails that I got over the weekend and there were 20,000 people that checked it out. The worst parent. The worst parent video on your website is the most appalling video I've ever seen. Scares me to death that some dumbass would find this funny and copy this life threatening act. That's the thing I was thinking to the first time I saw it, like, I don't know much about like shaken baby syndrome, but in a case like this you would think if this is real that that baby couldn't be healthy after this. But there's a baby smiling.

[B]

Yeah, Katie and I and I had thought I had not seen this, but ends up that Katie and I did see this because I wasn't aware that was the same video that we were talking about. And first reaction we had is this can't be real. And then the second reaction we had is just dread of what we're about to see. You know, like, because as the video progresses it just, you know, it's lasting and lasting and you're thinking, oh my God. And the same thought is how can that baby endure this? Because it is. It was so irresponsible on this guy's part to even attempt to do this. Whether the baby was smiling or not, it's fun for a second. But it could have had such disastrous results.

[A]

Now we still don't know the story of this guy. We don't know if he was a babysitter, if he was an uncle, if he was a father. We don't know even where the video originates. This email says the video of the man tossing around the baby looks completely fake to me. After I got this email and I got a couple others, I started looking at it a little bit closer and I must have watched it a dozen times over the weekend. And I think it's a fake also. How if you watch it really closely.

[C]

Well, let's let them watch it first and then we can analyze it because then I can bring it up and pause it and all that stuff.

[A]

Go ahead, Wendy.

[B]

But what concerns me is even if it's a fake and everybody's talking about it, I just don't want some and dumbass to. To copy this video and think that this is a thing to do. Most people, common sense will tell you absolutely not. And based on Wendy and Jen's reaction here soon, you know it's not the right thing to do. But there's always one idiot out there.

[A]

Just to let you guys know, the video is of one guy in front of a camera and he's playing some music. And he takes a baby which looks to be eight to 10 months.

[C]

Here, let me start it first so they can see, so they can be surprised.

[A]

I can't get your computer up in here, can I?

[B]

I don't think so.

[A]

You're just playing. Uh huh. And he starts playing this music. And then he has an 8 to 10 month baby that crawls right over to him. Must be the father. Baby crawls over to him. The father picks up the baby.

[D]

Oh my God.

[A]

And just starts swinging him around to the music as though like this is some circus act.

[D]

Oh no. Oh no.

[A]

And it gets progressively worse as the video goes on. I mean we're not just talking about a little toss to the left and toss to the right. We're talking about taking the baby by one arm and, and swinging them all the way around in a clockwork motion.

[D]

Oh no. Oh no.

[A]

One arm and the baby's just kind of like dangling there as the father is tossing it around all over the place. It doesn't look physically possible to me.

[B]

Well, I mean, yeah, it's just so ridiculous.

[D]

Oh my God. He just keeps going with it.

[A]

And it gets worse.

[C]

There's like 3:45.

[A]

Ew.

[D]

Oh my God.

[A]

No.

[D]

Oh my God.

[B]

Jen had turn away Beck.

[D]

I, I hope that this is fake because that is sick. What's your the on the baby or anything?

[A]

You guys look at it really, really closely. You know how sometimes when you're watching the weather, there'll be like a little bit of an outline like the weather on tv. I mean where you're watching the news

[B]

and there's like a little glow around.

[A]

A little glow like right around. Yeah, his head and his shoulders where you could sort of tell that. Yeah, they're in front of the green screen. If you look really closely at that, it looks like that might be around the baby. And they have just synced it up via computer to make it look like he's swinging the baby, but he's really not.

[B]

He's swinging something else. I hope so, because this is. Oh, it's awful. But it's not funny. Like the thing is even. I mean, hope it's fake, but even being fake, it's just funny to joke about.

[A]

Hey Brandon.

[E]

Go ahead, Bert. Oh my God. I have never seen somebody throw a child by one arm up. And do you know how easy it would be to dislocate that baby's arm or him slip out your hand and go through the wall.

[B]

And, you know. Yeah, I'm shocked that. I think that's what Katie and I thought is we're shocked that didn't happen to this baby. And that's why it may be fake, because I don't see how baby could endure what he did.

[A]

And there's nowhere online that has any kind of investigation at all going on. Hey, Olga.

[F]

Hey, Bert. Just wanted to say hi and love your show. I want to tell you guys that in the background, the music he's actually throwing his baby around to is Russian.

[A]

A Russian.

[F]

So I'm thinking maybe he's in Russia and probably most likely in circus.

[A]

What you guys see? Oh, it almost looks as though, like if it's real. This baby comes from, like a family of acrobats in a circus. And they're like, sort of training him early but for what he'll be doing as an adult.

[B]

But it's not just the joint thing. It's like his joints or her joint. We're not sure what. I'm not sure what gender the baby is and then. But the brain, you know, because they're. It just. It's just so disturbing.

[C]

There it is.

[D]

God, it's messed up.

[A]

And that's disturbing, don't you think? It can't be real, though. Like, no, baby.

[D]

There are parts of it. Yeah, there are parts of it that don't seem real.

[A]

Like, where. I don't. Like, I have. I really watched it a lot. Like when he's got it in front of the tv, there's just an angle there that just doesn't look natural. Doesn't look natural. Hey, Jim, you're on Q100.

[E]

Hey, guys. I'm telling you, I don't. I don't think it's fake. I saw the video and I saw it and on a different. On a television station. And after they saw it, that doctor talked about the damage that could have happened to the baby. I don't think it's fake. That baby crawled right over to that man.

[A]

Yeah.

[E]

And I think he's been swinging that baby around like that for a long, long time. That wasn't just a one time. Pick that baby up and do that to that baby. Swinging that baby around. Since it was a. Since it a baby baby. I mean, I'm telling you. And that child loved it, but that was very, very, very.

[C]

The child loves it, but by the time the child gets into sixth grade and care six years old and can't Pick up a crayon because its shoulder's destroyed.

[A]

Were you watching it again, Melissa?

[B]

Yeah, I. Wendy had it over here next to. I hadn't seen it in since last week and had my hands over my mouth because it just. It just hurts me. It hurts me, and it makes me angry at him. Katie and I were just, you know, Katie and I. And I'll admit it, I told this to Bertolf ear last week. I said, katie and I made a sexist remark when we saw it, because we were like, if this is the dad, you know, we're like, the mother would never have done this.

[D]

Oh, God, it's so disturbing.

[B]

Which is a sexist comment, you know, because there's plenty of abusive mothers, too. So. But that was our first reaction.

[A]

Hey, Jennifer, you're on Q100.

[G]

Hey, Burt Show. Love, y'. All. I listen to you every morning.

[A]

Thank you.

[G]

I watched a video, and in the beginning, I had to watch it a couple times. I was like, okay, this is not so bad. But then when I watched it like this. Well, not so bad, but in the beginning, when he was first swinging, because I know my parents used to throw me up like that, but by the armpits, it wasn't like, by the hands, you know? And the more I watched it, I was like, this is ridiculous. Like the previous caller, that baby knew exactly what was going to happen because he crawled over there like he was expecting it. And I just felt really, really bad. The more it progressed, I'm like, this is not normal. But at the same time, with the music that's playing in the background, you can see where the baby has his mouth open, and you can't tell whether he's laughing or crying. At the end, he's, like, laughing, but there's some parts where it looks like he's actually with his mouth open and crying.

[A]

Even if it's not this country, I mean, there are other. There are laws and there's police, and there are defects is quote, unquote, all over the world. So. I can't believe this hasn't been investigated. Hey, Christy. Good Morning. You're on Q100.

[F]

Yeah, I was calling about the swinging baby. I. I've actually heard that they were a family of acrobats.

[D]

How'd you hear that?

[E]

Well, this.

[F]

This guy who showed it to me, he told me that they found out that they were a family of acrobats. So I don't know if there's just something that they know what they're doing.

[A]

I'm not.

[F]

I'm not defending it at all.

[A]

I don't know.

[F]

Or maybe just he just needs some education. And that very well could have been the mom videotaping it.

[A]

It looks like the camera is still, though. Like it doesn't look like there's anybody in the room with him.

[D]

It does look like the camera is set up on a tripod or something.

[A]

He's gonna choose to believe it's fake because I don't know how any father could think that that was okay with

[B]

his kid and then tape it.

[C]

I can't find anything to on that. Although the the original, I guess hosting site or wherever the video is says up there, if anyone knows who this person is, please contact us so we can contact the authorities. So they're still looking.

[A]

The bird show.