FOUND FOOTAGE fuels decades long MYSTERY (*WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT*)

[@MrBallen]

Grab your copy of our Graphic Novel here: book.ballenstudios.com

[@ValimityYT]

first

[@InfiniteEchos]

Over the years I've heard this story told a few times, and it always reminds me of an old saying: "There's two types of ppl in this world: those who want to be left alone, and those who won't leave them alone"

[@belladonnahigh9206]

I guess that saying can be applied to everyone nowadays, one way or another.

[@noneyabidness9644]

The latter are annoying AF.

[@nutgone100]

The North Sentinel Islanders have got that one sorted. No one messes with them.

[@vixxxenfoxxx3660]

​@@nutgone100well, a few do but not for very long, lol

[@PoesRaven73]

I’ve heard that there are two types of people in the world: those who think there are two types of people in the world and those who don’t.

[@martlettoo]

Thank you for always making it clear what pictures are real or not. This is one of the only channels that does so, and as AI fakes take over, it's more important than ever

[@barbarasimoneau5718]

I totally agree with you! MrBallen is a class act when it comes to only putting the truth in his stories.

[@christopher9727]

.. Jesus Christ is the only hope in this world no other gods will lead you to heaven There is no security or hope with out Jesus Christ in this world come and repent of all sins today Today is the day of salvation come to the loving savior Today repent and do not go to hell Come to Jesus Christ today Jesus Christ is only way to heaven Repent and follow him today seek his heart Jesus Christ can fill the emptiness he can fill the void Heaven and hell is real cone to the loving savior today Today is the day of salvation tomorrow might be to late come to the loving savior today Holy Spirit Can give you peace guidance and purpose and the Lord will John 3:16-21 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. Mark 1.15 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Hebrews 11:6 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Jesus

[@itzablackcat]

AI will never take over realness

[@aaron71]

Though sometimes you have to laugh a little when it's like "NOT A REAL PHOTO" and it's some inane object.

[@bluepeopledoNotexistBlacksDo]

Sounds like Payback against a Caucasian due to a Lack of Respect, ON TOP of whites having Done Horrific things to Almost Every Indigenous Tribe Across the Planet, From The Americas, To Africa to Australia to Almost EVERY island on Earth, THIS was KARMA!😂😂😂😂🖕🏽

[@jacobm8396]

I remember when mrballens channel was so small that he’d like or react to every single one of his comments but now he’s getting 13k comments each video that is insane, dude blew up quickly

[@Dr.Rabbit7346]

One time I got a response and was so excited only to find out there are dozens of fake Mrballen people responding.

[@Silly__billy777]

serious Sam enjoyer detected

[@jacobweaver4523]

Happy for his success but I remember when he used to say "if you like the strange dark and mysterious we do it three, four, even FIVE times a week." I miss that. I wish him nothing but the best though. I'm glad he's busy doing all that he's doing. He deserves it. I just miss all the content because I can listen to him nonstop. I first found him on a road trip and told my wife "you gotta hear this guy, I could listen to him describe grass growing."

[@libradawg9]

That's the best thing about his channel. As easy as it is to love it's even easier to turn people onto him. Even someone in my fantasy football league mentioned him.

[@zedikiahkonotopsky2448]

Seriously eh

[@X0MBY47]

Having (true photo) and (not true photo) speaks volumes to the quality of your videos thank you and your work is appreciated

[@KenshiXxx-t3s]

true. it's the reason why the stories gets more interesting

[@DansManCaveUK]

Completely agree, with AI photos getting everywhere I wsh all youtubers would do this

[@katamine11]

@@DansManCaveUKit doesn’t have to just be AI photos though, they can be real photos but just misused/mislabeled. I think that probably still happens more than actual ai pics

[@bhargavipba]

The fact that Michael could have been rescued if he had just stayed back with Renè is especially heartbreaking.

[@ivyrose5153]

I mean whose to say they would have even saved them if the goal was to kill michael anyway. They probably just spared the poor woman they knew was stranded alone out there.

[@celestials.]

⁠@@ivyrose5153I don’t think you watched the video.

[@Sollapoke]

@@ivyrose5153bro it wasn’t the tribe that rescued the anthropologist

[@FitzgeraldStanburyWeissV]

@@ivyrose5153 Lol, you should pay attention... Rene was saved by a bunch of people from a plane, so that kinda implies that it couldn't possibly have been the Asmat tribe. Lmao.

[@babber2536]

but how did they capture Micheal in vedio footage if he was already caught and presumably killed after arriving near shore . like it was milts who opened the search about Micheal after years . not days .

[@chanihollister7274]

The fact that Micheal didn't tell his family about being shot with an arrow because they may seek retribution and wipe them out speak volumes about the kind of people he believes them to be.

[@zachh5812]

Soooo... wtf is up with the picture of the white guy in the war party? Kinda clickbaity to mention then never mention again.

[@lrainwater1608]

⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠@@zachh5812 what else is there to say. Some random white dude was with them. It was either him or not. There’s no other information about it

[@Sunburst_No]

​@@zachh5812what conversation, it was only you and a single response which you attacked. No conversation and nothing added from anyone, including me. Your welcome.

[@Whyisthatlamptalking]

@@zachh5812 What are you getting so upset about.... All the information that was known about the footage was mentioned. It was included in the video because of it's relevance to the rumors and speculation that were circulating around when it was found and released. Nothing more needs to be said and it definitely was far from "clickbaity".

[@PostallDoode]

@@zachh5812 If you wanted and heard the video in full, can you please explain why it was clickbaity to you? Judging by the context, how the guy was missing, had spectacles on, and how the the picture was taken around that time & place, there is a chance that it could have been him. Or... was it because the guy was white?

[@HappyHabit]

John, thank you for your service. I am a bedridden paraplegic and your stories give me something enjoyable to do and make my day. Thank you so much!

[@johnnynesbit8289]

There is life after death

[@JCavinee]

There is also death after life.

[@lawrencewang3327]

Jesus Christ guys. What the fuck. Dude just wanted to say thanks, not get a life altering paradigm delivered by some minimalist zen master.

[@kalmingkhaos5932]

@happyhabit, I clicked your profile and was happy to see we share the same last name. I don’t see many others with it. ❤

[@Dad-979]

🤣

[@blaze7366]

The moment he said that Michael wanted to buy one of these, I knew it, I just knew the tribe would most likely be offended by it.

[@standridge81]

I'm surprised he asked. Normally the elites just take 😂

[@McNuggins]

"Hey, can I buy the souls of your dead friends and family? I'll give you some pants, a nice shirt, hell, I'll even toss in some sweets for you fine folks!" Seriously, this dude lived such a pampered life that this didn't seem like the colossal fucking bad idea that is so obviously was.

[@claypigin]

to be honest I was offended on their behalf.

[@cindy-mq6pl]

Me too. Sadly, because he was a Rockefeller, he thought everything had a monetary value. He was very naive; I think that’s what saddens me the most. I pray his soul is at peace. What a horrific death.

[@SotaBoy4232]

​@@claypiginofc you were liberal 🙄

[@CaliforniaFarmGirl]

The really sad thing is the sister was his twin and she became a psychologist specializing in twin bereavement. Tell you how affected she was. 😢

[@bidenhasdementia8657]

Twins are weird

[@dancruz4635]

What’s even sadder is that you believe this junk.

[@Slideround]

Wat dus bereavemeant mean?

[@andronymous31]

​@Slideround it's the grief you feel after someone you love dies.

[@JennMartinello]

Aweee.

[@melissaq8854]

i took an anthropology class about "magic" rituals and religion of indigenous peoples, i remember us actually talking about micheals story very briefly, our professor used it as a lesson to always respect the cultures and people you are researching.

[@kylehankins5988]

I don't know the story doesn't really inspire respect from me.

[@Lucitaur]

Fuck those "cultures".

[@E10-g8m]

@@kylehankins5988 i think they meant it like you should be mindful of how a different culture, especially tribes who deeply believe in spiritualism, would react to your actions. Kinda a cautionary warning to observe from far away, and never alone

[@mrupert22]

I wouldn’t say savages who can’t write and eat people are worthy Mc respect

[@PostallDoode]

Of course, and the guy wanted to trade stuff for these religious objects, which was insulting for the tribe... If westerners trade their religious items, it's up to them, but we should not expect them to do the same. On the other side of the spectrum, even if you are the Rockefeller and have all the money in the world, you still cannot buy everything...

[@J_Clean_1996]

Being part of a sacrificial ritual would really suck man.

[@dannylo5875]

Well. Supposedly they attempted to receive or reconnect with his dead corpse. (demon or schizoid prions that make these people insane)... human flesh consumption

[@goofybastrd6856]

Don't knock it till you tried it

[@JohnDoe-pc1qf]

Only if you are the sacrifice.

[@Kat_12389]

Why did he even bother to risk his life? He was wealthy and could easily take care of his family wealth and business.

[@angelripper_420]

@@Kat_12389 all the money in the world can't buy brains 🤷‍♂️

[@harryricochet8134]

'Missing' people don't come back from the tribal regions of PNG. There are tribes which still practice cannibalism and head hunting to this day and are very hostile to any intruders regardless of circumstance. It is not somewhere which anyone should see as a good place to 'visit', those tribes should be left alone

[@Blaze-zm7zt]

I think you mean killed but ay to each their own.

[@michaelfurber5384]

​@@Blaze-zm7ztpretty sure that's why he put it in quotations but you felt the need to correct him. But ay each their own

[@Blaze-zm7zt]

@@michaelfurber5384 tfw when you said to each their own wrong, but ay to each their own hahahahaha. trying to be sarcastic like that to me then messing it up is hilarious.

[@michaelfurber5384]

@@Blaze-zm7zt cool story

[@Blaze-zm7zt]

@@michaelfurber5384 you spelled that one right.

[@anonygrazer3234]

I seriously doubt that young Rockafeller was worried his family would seek some sort of retribution against the tribe for him getting arrow shot - more like he worried his family would demand he stop his shinanegans in the dirt and settle down or they'd withhold $$$ that funded his travels, trade goods and hired hands.

[@wickeywaanzla3015]

On point. John Sr wouldn't have even given a green light on that to begin with lol.

[@UberCritic]

Well, to be fair, that actually seems to be a pretty common trope seen in all forms of media. You get this rich kid, dabbling with the unfortunate, something happens to the rich kid and he covers it up so his less fortunate friends don't get in trouble. You see it all the time. I mean, look at the butchers kid in Game of Thrones. That boy was done dirty.

[@anonygrazer3234]

@@UberCritic But every aspect of your point is hypothetical or made up though, and nothing remotely like it happened in this instance....the rich kid was literally killed for his (presumption, arrogance, misguided virtue signaling or enter your own choice here) and, more than likely, even eaten.

[@jaydena6297]

​@@anonygrazer3234it sounds like you're just assuming a whole bunch of s*** about something you know literally nothing about

[@MamaMOB]

​@@UberCritic That's fiction sweetie. We're talking about real life.

[@mikeporten8174]

My grandpa was in New Guinea during WWII and told me about the dangers of “the head hunters.” A couple of guys went missing and then nobody was allowed to go into the jungle alone for any reason.

[@Perkele_foxtrot_oscar_bravo]

That's interesting because alot of the tribes assisted the US and AUS as spotters and even in a case hit the Japanese camp. What island was your grandfather told that on of you remember? Would be interested in researching it.

[@mikeporten8174]

@@Perkele_foxtrot_oscar_bravo He was one the largest island of Papua/New Guinea. He liked most of the natives and took pictures with them (which I still have). It just seems like certain tribes were not very friendly.

[@Perkele_foxtrot_oscar_bravo]

@@mikeporten8174 yeah that sounds interesting it's just the one field of World War II I really don't know much about so always looking for new research topics

[@MsMesem]

@@mikeporten8174 It's well known they are not friendly and still have cannabalistic tendancies!

[@milkitea669]

My great uncle (also stationed in New Guinea) had a photo with a group of the locals, everyone smiling, one of them holding a human head. Coolest guy you'd ever meet, but seeing that photo after his passing made me think of him differently lol

[@dannygonzalez3817]

Crazy how the tribesmen told Carl this story in great detail , including the number of times the elder nodded at each other

[@lalli8152]

To be fair oral stories are extremely important in many tribal cultures, and if this killing happened it was likely big event to the tribe, and their own retelling of stories might be detailed. Also i think ballen adds often details like that to his stories, and it might be bit different than in the book

[@cxrindgo]

i don’t buy it. it seems like exactly the kind of news that someone westerner would want to share bc it’s sensational and feeds into stereotypes (that admittedly are sometimes true). why would they suddenly tell this guy, just because he ‘befriended’ them? why did the swimmers actually go and call for rescue, if they all harbored this intense hatred?? why would they not immediately attack him after he made the suggestion? (one could argue for resources but i feel that if they were truly insulted they wouldn’t just wait on it.) how was he able to communicate about the trade but not be able to understand anything about what they were doing? what happened to the skull? it all seems ridiculous.

[@7uneral]

he said they found the footage ..🌞

[@lalli8152]

@@7uneral Its not footage about that incident he supposedly got killed. The footage they found was some naked white guy with tribal warriors wearing eye glasses that kinda resembled him. Theres absolutely no outside witnesses or footage of the supposed killing

[@eroccha]

@@7uneral The footage was the group that went investigating but never watched it.

[@tcgreen11]

Shout out to the two teenagers that swam to shore and got help!

[@MyAMJourney]

"Help." They probably told the group this would be the perfect time for revenge

[@CarolineJoyAmico]

@@MyAMJourney on the other hand, it was their report that rescued Rene, wasn’t it?

[@TheVery1stTime]

HUH what did YOU hear LOL they didn’t send help they probably the reason they knew HE was the same dude from last time that they did not like if anything IM sure they told them and explained the situation thus why they was waiting in that particular area away from the village RIGHT

[@MyAMJourney]

@@CarolineJoyAmico why can't both scenarios be true? They had no issue with the other guy

[@alastairdow4400]

Most likely a half cast white/new guniean who is the son of a corrupt missionary and a local women.

[@RossFormoy]

I heard an additional piece of information to this story. Apparently the tribes word for “eat” and “absorb” are the same. Some people believe that they didn’t kill him and he in fact ended up joining the tribe (hence the video of the white man on the war canoe). Regardless of the truth Mr Ballen covers these stories better than anyone else.

[@evoluxsion7339]

Yes, what happened was that they saw Michael swimming the last miles near the shore, in waters that are usually shark and crocodile infested. This action helped him gain massive respect, and they considered him a true "warrior". Previously they may have been upset with him, but this action of his to survive defying the odds changed everything. And his dream of "living in paradise" among the tribe came true. He later had a wonderful life becoming a true member of the tribe, and also more success proving his worth in wars with enemy tribes. So they loved him. Especially the elders loved him. And Michael knew that returning to civilization would be going back to the life he actually hated. So he kept hiding over and over again, and asking others to lie, until his death. No missionary or other white man would've had the same level of madness to becoming a tribe member and live in "paradise" with them for the rest of his life. So, when Carl (the author of the last book) went there, they either lied to him, or told him the truth. Since Carl understood that Michael may have still been alive at the time, he decided to fulfill Michael's wishes and go with the cannibal story. And yes, I'm thinking that "eat", "absorb" and "assimilate" are synomyms in their language too.

[@deansteele3265]

I heard that same thing somewhere:)

[@mirubunnie]

omg...

[@tzzeek]

​@Bbgun666exactly why would they even bother telling the story if not but to cover up for Mike. He Left all the riches to live à simple life with his beloved travers, wgat à man, big respect.

[@malibu3939]

​@@evoluxsion7339There are several possibilities of what could have happened... he could have drowned while swimming to shore, he could have been killed by the Asmat people when he made it to shore, or.... like you said, ( @evoluxsion7389 ), they're lying for him to keep him hidden, and they've accepted him into their tribe. That's where he wanted to be. I like this version and hope that's what happened. We may never know. I think it's cool that he chose not to live his life here in America as a rich Rockefeller, but instead to live with the Asmat people that he truly loved and respected. ♡

[@keesketsers5866]

Funny, a Rockefeller trying to buy other peoples souls.

[@JimmyLeeJr]

Didn't his dad successfully buy 5 replacement hearts for himself?

[@keesketsers5866]

@@JimmyLeeJr : seriously? Wow

[@CommanderShepard-wq3wo]

@@JimmyLeeJr…wut?

[@ShihabAlvi-i2c]

Its just a crappy artifact

[@fishmonger1908]

I thought it was 7. And it was Michaels uncle David that did that. An absolute monster of a man that has done more to destroy America than most in this comment section could believe....

[@akina7578]

I’ve worked for his niece. Honestly way more down to earth than people would expect. Very nice and they still talk about him to this day

[@MM-jf1me]

Did you ever hear anyone connected with the family mention any of the rumors of his being cannibalized or other possible reasons for his death other than drowning?

[@akina7578]

@@MM-jf1me not that I’ve heard, they’re relatively closed off about it all tbh

[@richardharding7767]

You ever ask them about all the courthouses in Appalachia burning down between 1900-1930 when their oil empire suddenly owned all the mineral rights?

[@marmite400]

​@@richardharding7767 Very good question 😮

[@MM-jf1me]

@@akina7578 More than fair enough. Thanks for responding.

[@athisio836]

always amazes me how he tells the stories like he was actually witnessing this happen.

[@Youtube-Is-Trash]

Always amazes me how people don't understand that most of his stories are just filler with him guessing what happened.

[@YouRemindMeOfTheBabe.]

I've caught him lying in some of his stories and clearly making up big chunks of them before. You shouldn't use his versions if you're looking for something in particular.

[@flowleopard893]

​@@YouRemindMeOfTheBabe. So you clearly don't know the art of Gonzo Journalism. Look it up. Pioneered by Hunter S. Thompson, Gonzo is half fact and the rest is up to the story teller. It is my favourite form of story telling.

[@flowleopard893]

​@@KZbin-Is-TrashIt always amazes me when people don't know what Gonzo is. He is a master at the craft. Now go to bed, enough trolling for you for the week.

[@josephhefley9701]

That's why I don't listen to the podcast. He is a great storyteller but a meh narrator. Podcast has none of the excitement. it just sounds like a kid reading a book report.

[@nhickencugget]

as soon as I heard “Michael” and “tribe” I INSTANTLY knew what this was gonna be about. but I still listened because I love how you portray stories!!!!

[@Eldra1986]

For me it was "Rockefeller" and "tribe". I knew that he had been canibalized (prolly spelled dat wrong)..but the story that I grew up on is that he was trying to preach Christianity to the tribe and they killed him...man..the actual truth is even worse.

[@jerricadowning3697]

Same

[@fisty539]

same@@jerricadowning3697

[@debbiehenri345]

Me too. I must have listened to this mystery 3 or 4 times on various channels, but Mr Ballen's presentation skills always breathes new life into an old story.

[@RadenWA]

Idk, every single other channel says that it is very unclear whether this is really what happened or not. The tribes are always at war and it is likely they would say a lie to put blame on other tribe or leaders. Mr.Ballen seems to be the most confident at presenting it as a fact. And what about the sighting of the white man decades later?

[@Emm-cl7dp]

I studied with a Bouganville person and PNG person. One told me if i ever visit PNG, to only visit government compunds, they have fences, razor wire and armed guard posts to keep the tribes men out, because they eat people. The Bougainville man had to return to gis home, retrieve his wife and kids because his brother had been killed along with many of his family, by the neighbour tribe. He told me not to visit his jungles, they eat all the outsiders. It was hard to sit at a lunch with them after that.

[@DarthPlaya]

I trully appreciate the fact that you give photo descriptions that distinguishes between real and not real photos (It shouldbe manditory for content creators. Are you listening KZbin?) Great story telling.

[@seizeimmunity4113]

Agreed 100%

[@brucehansen7949]

Yea cuz KZbin really cares if you know the truth or not lol smooth brain comment

[@Gr33ntan]

😅

[@yolandecollins9952]

I agree

[@zukostryder]

Seriously I was thinking that toooo

[@Lindsey-cq9io]

That feeling you get when you can't sleep then suddenly remember there's a new strange, dark and mysterious story form experience waiting... Glorious!

[@floralmist6824]

2:19 am here! Lol

[@abhayrohan6316]

@@floralmist6824lol 2:50 am for me 😹

[@DanielPalmer-zq1fx]

Yea the first thing I do every night after work is check if there's a new Mr ballen video. Lately I've been a little disappointed because every time I click on what I believe to be a new video It ends up being a remastered video that I've already seen it just has a different thumbnail so I was so happy tonight to have a brand new video that I haven't seen yet

[@lauraarmstrong6900]

I wouldn't have slept after this one! I saved it for the am 😂

[@jashanestone]

Or, you are awake at 4am because your girlfriend forgot to set her alarm and so now you have to get up out the bed to retrieve her car because she parked halfway down the block and it's still dark outside... Only for then, to be wide awake, thinking.. *Oh yeah, theres's a new "strange, dark and mysterious" that I've yet to see..* Yeah, we live in the city. 😂😂😂

[@johnsantos1348]

1st half of this story is insanely crazy . 2nd half was brutal . Great story telling .

[@Sniperboy5551]

@sgtsillyass1575 Yeah, but eating humans will give you kuru… a prion disease that eats away at your brain. There’s a reason why cannibalism is frowned upon.

[@railimarotto2561]

🍖

[@lunarvision]

Cannibal Holocaust was real.

[@RequestAssassin]

Too bad it's at best 10% true.

[@roems6396]

@@RequestAssassin At least 50% of it is true. The part up until Rockefeller swims away is accurate. The expeditions to find him are true. And there have been several people who have spoken to that tribe and they claimed the exact same thing. They admitted that he was killed and eaten, not as retribution for wanting the art, but because he was from the “white tribe” which had killed members of their tribe in the past. A private investigator hired by the family in the 70s went to the tribe and traded them for three skulls, which the tribe said were from the only white men they had killed. He brought the skulls to the family who had issued a reward of $250k for anyone who could bring them definitive proof that Michael was alive or dead. They paid the money to that investigator. So…why would you KNOW that it’s only 10% true?

[@richarddillon8394]

I've heard the story told by a few other people but you have explained many facts that others seem to have voided made it so much more interesting appreciate your style

[@maralsfilms]

Shooting a documentary and not reviewing the footage for 40 years. Too relatable☠️

[@cheatbeat-vt9hf]

Can I see

[@paulwoodford1984]

happens all the time.

[@jonslg240]

Where is the "found footage" in the actual video, the scene that is in the thumbnail? I either missed it, or it's not there and he's turning into another YT Liar. Please someone tell me, because I've subscribed for 2 (or more?) years, seen all his videos, and never thought of him ss a liar.

[@Raina_mz]

😂

[@robturcotte5955]

I'm confused. How does the film show Michael with the tribe if he was killed and eaten?

[@Qikdraw]

My wife died last month, she watched your show religiously. Thank you for providing her something interesting to watch during her last months. • thank you to everyone who has replied, you're very kind.

[@mstahiki_meya]

Am sorry 😞 about that sir 🥺love you so much ❤ may you heal ,

[@My_Name_Is_Mud.]

I hope you find peace in your life and learn to love again. May she rest in peace and you be reunited one day ❤

[@dinkvjr]

I'm so sorry for your loss. My dad lost his wife and my mom of almost 50 year marriage. So I understand your loss sir. After 3 years my dad finally stopped mourning so much and even talks to a lady. My mom wanted that for him. But we still miss her dearly. She had the worst stroke one could have and wasn't supposed to make it through the night, but she made it 6 months! I watched my parents fall in love again and it was beautiful. She didn't remember us kids much but at times she did, but she never forgot my son, her baby. That made me happier than anything. She was my best friend and mom. I hope you get your life back no matter if it's on your own or with another. I know you can't imagine life without her or loving another but you can do it. In time, you can love again. She would want you to be happy. I hope you find happiness and I'm so sincerely sorry. And don't let anyone tell you when to move on!! You move on when it's right for you. And if you don't want to ever love another, don't. Do what pleases you, what makes you happy and if waiting to reconnect with your wife is what you want, then I know you will see her again and find comfort in that. I wish you well sir. May your wife rest in peace and see you again for love finds a way.

[@RaccooniusIII]

Rip Mrs. Qikdraw ❤

[@44Paws]

I'm very sorry for you're Loss sir. My deepest sympathy 🙏 😔

[@sirchantitarot]

Mr. Ballen thinks saying things will be highly disturbing in a nice, calm tone will make me not be worried. My heart dropped 😂

[@Dad-979]

You would!! 🤣 🤭

[@EddieSmith917]

Listening to this was like listening to a drunk guy at the pub ramble on for 30 minutes

[@promisestarxd9487]

I think them murdering him is highly credible, even as you were telling the story I thought it was weird that they had supposedly agreed to even send one of those poles. I was like, aren’t they offended?

[@bstrdbss]

In an actual documentary about him, one of the tribes visited by the researchers admitted what had happened.

[@samuelgoss1529]

Whats the documentary calked ?​@bstrdbss

[@doro4872]

​@@bstrdbsshow is the documentary called?

[@bstrdbss]

@@doro4872 hold on let me see if I can find it again

[@bstrdbss]

@@doro4872 kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYrRZJiap9uDpqssi=ogpBUMhy0Y4eTO_Z

[@feidry]

I really like how every image used is captioned on whether it's real or not. Good job.

[@3031mane]

I cant wait to watch

[@juliafernandez1699]

The problem with this story is that too many people had strong motivations to lie. The Nat Geo writer had to leave with a career-making story. The tribe also might have told him an elaborate story as they realized it was the only way he would leave (the cannibalism angle might have helped hurry that along, as well). The “Don’t tell anyone or else we’ll be killed” part followed by the guy immediately telling the world about it in a book part also makes it highly suspect to me.

[@patriotiac572]

The whole channel is Brainwashing 101

[@Impericalevidence]

Your suspicion and cynicism pleases me.

[@patriotiac572]

@@Impericalevidence I posted a comment that said, "Cool story, bro. Someone should make a movie about this. Maybe Tom Hanks can star in it" but apparently this Clown has muted me. Hmmmm.

[@GOLD_FEVER]

@@Impericalevidence Reality is pessimistic. Optimism is ignorance.

[@andpoo7759]

@@patriotiac572 Then how am I reading your comment?

[@lyndiane7899]

I'm Malaysian, Indonesia's neighbour. I think last year or 2 years a tragedy happened to a group of Indonesians tower technician. Only one survived. It went viral here. I can't imagine the poor guy traumatized.

[@jogrant3851]

Indonesians have been invading and butchering PNGineans for years. Did you mention that?

[@yinglee5781]

Tf does this have to do with the video 😭😭

[@bigpapamagoo8696]

Coincidentally, I just watched Wendigoon’s video on this story yesterday (it came a couple years ago, I was just late to the party). It’s a testament to what an engaging storyteller Mr Ballen is that I’m watching it all over again!

[@vannahmae7413]

wendigoon is so great ! story form goats

[@notnog]

bruh i wached thevsame video a week ago

[@lawd8D]

What's the name of the video? Would love to watch it

[@bigpapamagoo8696]

@@lawd8D it’s called The Cannibal Killing of Micheal Rockafeller

[@chriswise7978]

I could have sworn that Michael interacted with the Sentinels

[@earlyso_music]

This was the most detailed explanation I've seen on the Michael Rockefeller story so far. So haunting. Well done.

[@PorcupineTheOneandOnly]

Based on the story by Carl Hoffman. I mean, story is great, but the death scene was a hypothetical.

[@flemch6136]

Because a lot of it is just BS to make the video longer. No fucking way all these details could be known to anyone after so long.

[@youtubeillegallydeletesacc1525]

​@@flemch6136It's just assumed filler, that most likely happened. Like, wouldn't the natives look at each other before deciding to take him? Sounds likely to me. 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@ichaffee1]

Exactly. This guy is pretty much full of BS always ​@@flemch6136

[@Addictedtoyoutube9]

I saw a Jre clip where they found a video where a white man was seen rowing a boat essentially indianised.

[@SomeRandodude222]

The thumbnail by itself is pure nightmare fuel.

[@debanderson9838]

😂

[@eatadick6969]

It looks like a death metal album art

[@jerkygutts8386]

It looks like a Death Metal band’s album cover.

[@royrequireswifi488]

I know not to judge a book by its cover, but man I know this will be good

[@arheei72738]

You’re just a baby

[@ProtossWannabe1984]

As soon as I heard “New Guinea” I knew EXACTLY where this story was headed

[@RDCaraway]

Headed or Be-Headed???

[@HeisenbergFam]

"to this day people still say he drowned on his swim to shore trying to get help" is terrifying, imagine being in that hopeless scenario

[@syberphish]

They knew he had dandruff cuz they found his head & shoulders on the beach.

[@rethundralegna4138]

That was a better, less macabre narrative to go with in mourning, than the other one where he was hacked to death and eaten.

[@ZombieSazza]

@sgtsillyass1575this made me genuinely laugh out loud

[@Schmorgus]

Rich boy tried to buy their stuff without learning about it. I mean, hopeless or not, he put himself in the situation.

[@treectrice9180]

​@@Schmorguscan I get a effin AMEN!!! best comment!!!

[@Sickwitit18]

Tribe: "Oh him? Yeah we killed him, here is every detail." Rest of the world: "Nah he drowned."

[@PattyFlatz]

In a part of the world plagued with Kuru at that time... You nailed it.

[@abhilashkulkarni6601]

It's a stretch to believe he swam atleast 10kms against the current. Remember the boat was getting pulled pretty fast. If he is not an Olympic level athlete, he wouldn't have made it to the shore. Fit people can run 10kms, it takes a different physique to swim 10kms, and they say it was more than that

[@villyplaysgames4759]

​@@abhilashkulkarni660110 miles, not km

[@shreeshmorkhade4897]

@@villyplaysgames4759even more unbelievable then. 10 miles roughly equals to 16 or 17 km

[@villyplaysgames4759]

@@shreeshmorkhade4897 I know is crazy

[@mush4ka]

The second story about his disappearance is truly horrifying when you imagine the situation.

[@RabbitTeaPot]

​@@trawlins396...they meant the stories about what happened to him, as we will never know 100%. There were 3 stories put forward as to his fate...chill out.

[@landenwarren1091]

@@trawlins396I think they mean that this story is scarier than the first time Mrballen told the story about Michael Rockefeller because he already had an old video about Rockefeller..

[@NickyBlue99]

Nightmare fuel

[@trawlins396]

@@landenwarren1091 oh I didn't know that. Thx. I thought it was the first time.

[@trawlins396]

@@RabbitTeaPot that wasn't it.

[@ElizaWatts]

Mr Ballen speaks over animatedly and the gesticulating is just too much. I can’t unsee it.

[@nicolew4877]

I do feel sorry for Michael and how naive he was. He didn’t view them as savages, he had deep respect for their culture. He didn’t care about money. But he lacked deeper understanding of their customs and offended them with his offer. It’s a tragic story because he had good intentions, but he really should have stayed away. People just don’t learn.

[@streuthmonkey1]

It doesn't actually make sense. Clearly he had earned enough of their respect to trade art with him as they had done so on his previous trip. If they had been offended when he asked for one of their totems why would they not just have killed him then? Considering that what appears to be him is on footage taken after the fact it seems more likely that he stayed with the tribe and that they told those looking for him the story Mr Ballen tells to get people to stop looking because he did not want to be found.

[@asorteoffish5839]

@nicolew4877 Thank you for this comment; I'm seeing a lot of people here blasting Michael for his actions and while his idea of being able to essentially buy something so sacred from them was offensive, he respected the people themselves in an era where most people would have looked down on them. He was just disconnected and as you said, naive. I hope he's resting in peace.

[@mandybon04]

I think your reply is savage and you should be treated as such.

[@VaderPopsVicodin10]

​@@mshat18...but tell us how you _really_ feel? 😅

[@christopherdunn3094]

Typical privileged white person completely oblivious to the way things really are.

[@angiewinchester3384]

I like how the two leading theories are such big contrasts to each other. Either they rescued him and accepted him as one of their own or they captured him, used him in a sacrificial ritual and then canibalized his body. One is a story of compassion and the other is a story of revenge.

[@Shinobi33]

I think the 2nd story is total bullshit. At least the first one has some visual footage that could confirm it

[@JJFX-]

​@@Shinobi33Not too mention all the insane details about a secret event that supposedly occured ~50 years prior. Chances are he simply drowned. No way this fool swam 5+ miles. I might believe men from a tribe simply found his dead body and over the years that turned into local legend that was embellished as such. The hyperbolic revenge story sounds like someone trying to sell a book.

[@Shinobi33]

@@JJFX- sure does. And he's an NPR journalist. 'nuff said

[@ValeryThamm]

Only those who were there, know. And of course the newspaper reported “…and they lived happily ever after”. Possibly because due to the magnanimity of his family status. If it were the average Joe, it may have been a different report.

[@JJFX-]

@@ValeryThamm If it were an average Joe it'd get about as much coverage as whoever the white dude actually was that they caught on camera. Part of me would love to believe this was actually him and the other stories were simply spun to dismiss the idea that a Rockefeller disowned his evil overlord family to join a tribe. Ironically, if the tribe really did want to get back and white colonialism that would be the best way to do it.

[@robmangeri777]

The lore surrounding this family is endless… the money and power, the ruthlessness, the whispered secrets and hidden evils. There is far more than a movie trilogy worth of intrigue but in the end I would much rather know the truth even if it is mundane.

[@torquetheprisoner]

the movie shoud be called oyster

[@SpyralHax]

I'm surprised such an influential family hasn't gotten the Netflix series treatment yet.

[@HereXEG]

​@@SpyralHaxthose movies wait till the end of the family to come out. There will be no end to the Rockefellers. Nor would one want to cast light on them while they are alive and in power. The sad thing is, if this is truly what happened to Michael, it is most likely tame compared to what happened to a lot of people that crossed the Rockefellers!

[@kilors206]

Michael's own father massacred prisoners that were rioting after agreeing to their demands when he was Gov of New York, and his own father before him massacred Mining families at Ludlow, it's sad that Michael tried to escape that, but you do reap what you sow, especially a family like them. The Rothschilds created Cabal but the Rockefellers mastered it@@HereXEG

[@mdmgamer1995]

@@HereXEG doubt that village is still around

[@damionneranginui6546]

I'm Aussie. Some of us know full well about leaving those tribes alone. My friends dad built the parliament house there back in the day while they had a coffee plantation there high elevation too. The day after it was opened, the rest of the family fled back to Australia. An axe......i won't tell the rest. Her mum was a very well loved person here. Her dad is missed.

[@markwolo2524]

If this story is true , which it seems extremely possible , it truly shows that Michael knew very little about the Asmat tribe , it cost him his life and very well probably would’ve took three others with him had they made it as planned .

[@FerociousMit]

It is a real story, and some theorize he may have made peace with the tribe. The footage found clearly showed a white man with the tribe. It could have been him, might have not been. It's hard to tell.

[@RC-md2yx]

@@FerociousMit the footage tells that you can clearly see him with the tribe

[@ejakeulater4990]

I think it might be true. But why would the tribe say anything if it could cause them to be attacked? Surely they would keep it quiet. I think the picture of the white warrior was most likely an albino of the tribe and the guy died during his swim, 6-10 miles is a long way to walk let alone swim after an exhausting night of no sleep, food or water

[@aussiehardwood6196]

Sounds like that tale when the US thought they could turn Afghanistan into a functioning democracy...

[@FerociousMit]

@@RC-md2yx you can't say for certain that it was him. I believe it was him myself. I try to keep my mind open though. He could have easily drowned, that is a long swim in the ocean.

[@sunriseeyes0]

He may have been the most empathetic person in his family, but he was delusional to convince himself that the people would trade the souls of their family members to a member of the foreigners who caused their deaths in the first place for mere cigarettes and candy. From their perspective, no loving person would sell a family member for anything! If Michael truly loved and respected these people like he said he did, he would’ve understood that and never would’ve asked them for the unthinkable to them. He took photos of the burial poles, that should have more than enough to display in his family’s museum for the unfamiliar to gape at.

[@jaad9848]

This. Not everything is for sale.

[@rey273]

yeahhhhhhhhh i was kind of thinking the same thing. like why not just take photos and draw diagrams if you wanted to study the art so badly?

[@Still_I_Ride]

Thank you, thank you thank you!! I'm an anthropologist and have heard stories like this over and over - I get incredibly offended when affluent whites think they can show up white and make their way into a place and do their own thing. Grateful white privilege doesn't work everywhere.

[@dmk2632]

Great point man!

[@Hampter.mental.counselling]

@@Still_I_Ride nothing to do with his skin colour. More to do with being a wealthy American

[@christina-2822]

The Sunday wait felt long…now I know I’m a fan of the “strange, dark, and mysterious delivered in story format”.

[@johnjeffreys6440]

Unfortunate, though, how he omits the "graphic and disturbing"

[@neurophysiological]

It's Monday in my place

[@missmissy_90]

Extra long for me. I thought yesterday was Sunday so I was waiting all morning for 1pm and ONLY then did I realize it was Saturday.😅 Love John. He told the story great as always.

[@aphex82]

Well you've come to the right place, because that's all he does and he uploads once a week.

[@johnjeffreys6440]

He used to upload 3 or 4 times when he only had a million subscribers. @@aphex82

[@summerfield858]

Thank you for your service, Mr. Ballen! My Son is currently serving in the ARMY in Germany.

[@BijinMCMXC]

I definitely believe the second half of the story because that pole thing he wanted was stuck in my mind the whole time. When you explained the significance of that art I thought what would possess him to think he can get that from him! So the second part of this really tied everything together.

[@dannydanny865]

There have been no shortage of men willing to sell out their own for profit. My theory is Rockerfeller did not give a high enough incentive. If he wanted something of that high an importance he should've found a very valuable item for them.

[@BijinMCMXC]

@@dannydanny865 The story first SOUNDS like he had some type of reason to believe he could make that deal…if making the deal at all was so insulting I’m thinking he would’ve picked up on that sooner? So yeah you may be right. Either he didn’t offer enough or the leaders of the tribe were EXTREMELY passive aggressive about not wanting to make a deal 😅

[@irishime]

Do you think the guides from his first encounter could have warned him? The locals and guides knew a lot about this tribe so they may have spotted the insult.

[@LOLrigole]

Maybe he was so adamant of the idea that his intentions were good and only beneficial to the tribe that he didn’t see all the signs that were there. Also we don’t know what the communication customs of that tribe were. Michael didn’t speak the language, a lot must have been lost in translation, both ways. Maybe a paid translator didn’t want to disappoint his client and therefore turned a „no“ into a „maybe“, who knows.

[@meganr9280]

@@dannydanny865you underestimate the way people feel about their core beliefs. Those who are committed to their religious beliefs won’t sell out no matter what is offered.

[@therealFearlessBOB]

MrBallen and 'The Why Files' are the only channels where I don't skip the promos. Most of the time they are just hilarious.

[@D8rk_Kitt3n]

I just listen out of respect

[@Jimmyuwuuu]

Fr mate

[@curiouscat94x77]

All hail Lord Hecklefish!

[@alyssavance5311]

Omg same they both make it so entertaining!

[@tickledtoffee]

I'm going to go watch some "The Why Files" vids because of your comment. I've never heard of the channel, but if the promos are worth watching I'm pretty sure the content is too lol

[@evelynbare1975]

The lesson is never assume anything of people and cultures that are unknown to you. He was very arrogant in his quest for what he saw as art, but to these people those "art" items were so much more. Sad that he didn't even realize how much he had offended the very soul of the people he was trying to deal with, but this is why a seasoned and honest guide and interpreter is worth their weight in gold even today in some places in the world.

[@asniffer6532]

Exactly, the problem here is that it was ok he was into the art, it's indeed beautiful and exotic, however insisting in buying even after he knowing that in their culture those sculptures are actually carrying the souls of their dead warriors was very offensive. The man was clearly super self absorbed. Anyone with a bare minimum empathy level could understand that in any culture, offering to buy out the souls of their warriors which they still have to avenge would be the ultimate offence. He actually was given a chance to leave the first time since they were probably a bit aware of Michael's own tribe, however when the river '' brought '' Michael straight up to their warriors hunting party months after, they saw it probably as a sign from the Gods to do something about it. The first time I heard about this story without details I did thought Michael was one of the few cases of a Billionaire looking for a free from society and money kind of life, but now knowing more of his approach, it's clear to me that he was an adventure in some kind of way, but his end goal was to own a very rare trophy . He would never want to leave his lifestyle, and that makes sense, what Rockfeller would want not to be a Rockfeller anymore.

[@ViewingChaos]

My theory outside of him drowning: I recon the tribespeople told him the only way they'd let go of one of their sacred poles was through him helping to avenge the dead warriors spirits. Hence him appearing in the a war party image looking like he'd integrated with the tribe. Maybe he was killed later, or it really was someone else in that footage

[@asniffer6532]

@@ViewingChaos The problem is that his actions doesn't entirely seem of someone that was deep interested in their culture. I really can't see him dropping everything and become a warrior in their tribe for some basic reasons. He wasn't interested even deep enough to actually learn the tribe's language. It seems all he wanted was to bring the totem as a trophy back with him. In the end he was just a white billionaire Rockfeller thinking he can have whatever he wants. Just the fact he thought it was ok to buy the souls of trapped warriors to bring back to civilization is quite offensive and I am not even a tribesmen lol.

[@evelynbare1975]

@asniffer6532 Exactly right.

[@HonzoRich]

The same can be said of that tribe. That tribe didn't explain themselves clearly enough and shouldn't have taken anything from him, but they did. So when he exhanged goods with them, he was merely expecting his end of the deal. The tribe cheated him, that's not defensible. So of course when the tribe is asked about what happened years later, they retcon the story into him being "disrespectful" and got what he "deserved". But they knew it was murder, otherwise why demand the story not be told? What family wouldn't avenge the murder of an innocent family-member? And with so many people, leftists, here with a hate-boner for the rich and Whites, they'd gladly overlook the fact that this barbaric tribe ritualistically murdered an innocent man after cheating him. But the noble savages can never be evil, amirite?

[@KS04304]

7:06 Michael Rockefeller was in fact the GREAT-grandson of John D. Rockefeller Sr. - the man who founded Standard Oil and turned it into a monopoly. In 1900 Rockefeller Sr. controlled 90% of the oil in the U.S. He was the country’s first billionaire. When SCOTUS ruled in 1911 that Standard Oil was violating federal anti-trust laws, it was broken up into 34 different companies. Chevron and ExxonMobil were part of that 34 and they *still* are two of the largest companies, by revenue, worldwide. Michael’s grandfather was John D. Rockefeller JR. and his dad was Nelson (Rocky) Rockefeller.

[@Muffinsofficial]

My goal in life is to not end up in a strange, dark and mysterious, KZbin video delivered in story format.

[@hollydavis06]

Same 😂😂😂😂😅

[@rwatson2609]

ME TOO.

[@guestarsmith3621]

I'm actually shooting to be on a three part series of these.😮

[@briancommon9281]

your story begins...now...

[@CL4PTRAPS_SQUIRE]

Ngl I wouldn't mind it lol

[@KESTLEBEATS]

MrBallen I'm from New Guinea and a big fan of your content. I am from a deferent province from where Michael went missing. Its my first time hear this story and if I may add, it is most likely Michaels fait ended the way the book Savage Harvest depicted. During those days all tribes in New Guinea have strong boundaries which forbids outsiders from obtaining valuable artifacts. Any attempt to steal or obtain items could lead to death by cannibalism. But if its true or not, we can only speculate. cheers mate keep on coming with more content

[@troycassidy6177]

Hi mate Aussie here, my bet is that he never made it past the shore or mangroves. There's loads of Bull Sharks and Saltwater Crocodiles around the mouths of rivers. A big Crocodiles probably stuffed him under a bunch of submerged tree roots and munched him down.

[@IG-ccam_roll]

@@troycassidy6177 I understand you Point of view however when the Gas Canteen was recovered it was in perfect condition, and yet after watching this video Twice there was only ever one shown as found. And @MrBallen illustrated Michael strapping two gas canteens to his waste. So personally this doesn't show how Michael could be attacked by wildlife and both Canteens end up in perfect condition however there was only ever ONE shown in this video.

[@troycassidy6177]

@christiangaw7319 it's png mate if someone finds a couple of jerry cans in good condition, they are taking them home and using them. Depending on which way the tides are running trying to swim with a couple of jerry cans could also be worse than trying to swim with one or nothing.

[@mista-ys5if]

Did we all forget he was spotted rowing a boat? I just feel like he wanted to be left alone

[@ryanmumbower3035]

Didn't mean to put the emoji on there lol

[@debby705]

My son recommended your channel to me recently, now I'm totally addicted. Superb story telling, I love it. Thank you.

[@MrBallen]

Thank you!

[@explorationgmer1336]

You're welcome mom

[@artanlubovci]

​@@explorationgmer1336?

[@roxyabrooks864]

Ok. I gotta ask...Does he get a raise in allowance for this, or not? 😆 What a great son! 🎉

[@ScoopDogg]

Did you know he is a Navy seal too. Great guy eh : ) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MrBallen

[@ItsMe-ic7on]

So far Mr B your "Found Footage" since be the only real thing I've ever seen. Not made up just to get somebody to view the video or whatever. So thank you very much

[@whatifschrodingersboxwasacofin]

18:00 the fact that you acted out ‘a shot… taken from a distance’ is one reason why your videos are sooo good.

[@reneeborghesi629]

He is a fantastic storyteller. So perfectly animated. Makes you feel like you are there!

[@MirrorHeadz_Music]

You mean the part where he points out the dead black man behind him and if you look on the right side of the picture, the men aren't naked and wearing modern clothes, most likely the victim. You all are sick.

[@Roswellred2]

The tribes men aren’t known liars. They would have no reason to lie. I believe the story that was told by them. Thanks for this story. I have also been fascinated with the story and what happened to him.

[@nom-nomnami1743]

It also seems like a really oddly specific story to make-up and pass down if it didn't actually happen. Like, why would this remote tribe make up a whole-assed story about how they ritualistically ☠️ some white dude. If they didn't actually do it.

[@audreymuzingo933]

Uhhhh, but you think a guy who wants to sell books wouldn't lie about what the tribes men "told" him? I mean even by his own claim he broke his word to THEM by telling a story they were afraid of the world knowing. So why believe anything he says?

[@Roswellred2]

@@audreymuzingo933 I see your point.

[@CarolineJoyAmico]

Why do people type the word “uhhhhhh”? It amuses me. That’s what we say when we are searching for words to say. But this is TYPING. I’m genuinely curious why someone would type an “uhhhhhh”. Forgive my question. Just trying to understand. When I was in public speaking class, we were trained not to even SAY it, let alone take the time to type our mistake.

[@darthsilversith667]

@@audreymuzingo933Because screw those tribesmen.. they rightfully should’ve been scared of the world finding out what they did. Imagine killing and eating someone just because they tried to buy one of your “sacred poles”. They didn’t want to be slaughtered for what they did.. as they probably should’ve been. No room in this world for complete savages. They knew what they did was wrong.. otherwise they wouldn’t have asked the guy to not tell anyone.

[@ColCam]

I remember being chronically addicted to Mr.Ballen videos. I'm talking back when he would say "we upload 3,4 even 5 times a week" so I had plenty of content to binge on.

[@edmfuturedisco3485]

Good old times 😅

[@mikaylaleigh2486]

Felt :( miss it

[@googleedwardbernays6455]

Since you have a weird need to be his oldest fan, i guess you can answer my nagging question. i need to know, was there ever a time where he didnt flail around with his hands like a g0dd@mn nincompoop, looking as though he is mentally unwell?

[@bridflower5408]

Part of why I like his storytelling so much. He’s animated.

[@costanzafaust]

@@googleedwardbernays6455 LOL I came to the comments to find a comment about that. It's so distracting I had to scroll down and just listen while looking for some solidarity.

[@OUTTA-TYME88]

You live a sheltered life if you don't believe the second part of the story could be true that they killed and ate him. Nothing prejudice about it, when it is a known fact that there are cannibilistic tribes like this one. People want to believe the less gruesome way, that he became part of the tribe. That's the fairytale to me. It rarely ever happens. There are other stories like this where missionaries are so naive and end up possibilily like Michael did. These people should be left alone, if you really want to respect them and for your own safety,

[@wil_bme5562]

I was just a baby when this was news. But my dad remembers when the son of the Gouverneur went missing. Sad and incredible story. This is something I will share with my dad. Thanks

[@PureMagma]

I'd be interested in a "where are they now..." video about the tribesmen who participated in the 'ritual killing of a perceived enemy' 😅 Did their deceased ancestors reward them with prosperity and longevity? Were they (and their families) cursed from that day forward? What was their collective legacy... was it better than, the same or significantly worse when compared to other similar tribes and tribal histories.

[@Derek_Wyld]

true that@@PureMagma

[@tammy1692]

Maybe you should go out and investigate. I will follow your quest for sure :D

[@kenhew4641]

what is it to you how it went for them? are you saying that if their lives didn't change or their lives cursed after the sacrificial killing of Michael you'd school them about it and they'll go, "yeah our customs and traditions are really dumb we should learn from you the great western white man whose culture is so superior and better than ours"...? @@PureMagma

[@sisterhoney61]

I have a degree in anthropology. One of my professors was Dr. Karl Heider, who studied the tribes in New Guinea and has written books about them. He was a grad student in New Guinea when Michael Rockefeller was there. Karl met Michael and told us stories in class about Michael while the two of them in New Guinea.

[@DamienDorsey1017]

That’s crazy. Small world

[@nedflanders4158]

Did he share any theories of his own? Did he think it was possible the tribe killed him like that?

[@marcelmircus8087]

That’s crazy

[@savingangels]

​@@nedflanders4158I wanna know too

[@pjchris2160]

What stories

[@74Bignorm]

I’ve heard about this incident several times over the years. I have watched videos and read articles about it. This video is by far the most interesting and informative (and believable) version I’ve come across. What a tragic situation it was, but the narrative was detailed and riveting. Good job.

[@BellaIsMyBaby]

Also very IRONIC given what we know about the Rockefellers. 😬

[@matthewwilliams9093]

Those hand movements are something special.

[@2snowgirl520]

They are annoying to me

[@MrsABC7997]

I've studied this case for many years. You have done a fantastic job covering all of the many facets! 👏

[@RubberWilbur]

MrBallen is a master story teller. When I first saw the subject matter I told myself "I've heard about this". But I haven't heard of this story through the mind of MrBallen and this was fantastically told.

[@cariadbach]

Hi. Just out of curiosity, you said that you've studied this case for years, so I was wondering if I could ask you what your take on it is. What do you think happened to him? I'd love to believe the whole "white guy in a picture that wasn't seen for 40 years but it sure looks like him, and that he's left his life as a Rockefeller and now lives amongst the tribes" story, but something tells me that he met his demise on that fateful day.

[@syberphish]

@@cariadbach I still wonder who the other white dude on the canoe was? Did the tribes regularly let white guys join them?

[@b-dub6865]

Yes, who is the guy in the picture? Rockefeller had clothes on & was laying on the boat, not paddling with the tribe members.

[@cariadbach]

@b-dub6865 Well, yes, that's the mystery, isn't it? The photo of him stood practically naked with the tribe going into battle was taken years after he allegedly went missing. Some people believe that was him and he did manage to swim back to shore that day. Some believe that he got back to shore and decided to turn his back on his life as a Rockefeller. Some believe he turned his back on his fortune so he could live among the tribes. The other story of course is that when he made it back to shore that day, the tribe leaders that hated him were waiting for him so that they could kill him. And the story the family want everyone to believe is that he drowned on his way back to shore. It's a real mystery!!

[@streuthmonkey1]

The story about him being killed and eaten sounds just like the kind of story a cannibal tribe would tell a white man who was asking about someone who did not want to be found. He had clearly earned the respect of the elders, as they would not previously have traded art with him if he hadn't, and it sounds like he was respectful enough of their culture to discuss the significance of art before asking to purchase it. It doesn't seem to make sense that they would just kill him for what he had previously asked. If beiing insulted by the request was the issue why had they not killed him when he asked? Tribal people aren't unreasonable in the way suggested by the story. If he had caused offense after establishing a relationship they would probably discuss the situation and would be aware that he was ignorant of their customs and the significance of the carvings. Based on the footage of what appears to be him on the canoe it seems that he was living with the tribe. My supposition is as so. The elders did find him and having previously established a relationship with him as a trading partner rather than an adversary they rescued him. He did not want to be a Rockerfeller so asked to remain living with the tribe, which they allowed. He then continued to live with them and they told outsiders to say that he had not been seen. After they were told he had been seen in footage and that he was being searched for they made up the story we have been told to get people to stop looking.

[@moirarussell1950]

Ooooh nice!!

[@nala7658]

I love this version. Problem is his mother paid a private investigator to find out what had happened to him with a bonus reward of £250,000 if he could bring back conclusive proof of life or death. The man returned with three skulls. The tribe traded them for a boat and claimed they were the skulls of the only white men they had killed. The result was never published but micheals mother paid over the bonuses. I still believe he drowned personally.

[@stuckbetweenfandoms5138]

i like this theory, i much prefer it

[@janedoex1398]

They didn't trade art with him . These poles are holy and contain souls! That's why he went back .

[@nala7658]

@@janedoex1398 wasting your time. Seems none actually listened properly 😂

[@specialservicesequipment393]

To this day PNG has cannibals . I have a friend that worked in middle management for a gas exploration company that was drilling in PNG. they were not allowed to leave the drilling compound without armed body guards. The company had lost another executive severaldls years before after he offended some locals in a bar in town. They never found his body.

[@joseaspiras8906]

Facts. My dad worked at PNG for 2 years, their company assigned armed personnels when they go out of the compound. You can also get robbed in broad daylight if you don't have a local or armed security with you. There are also locations which are off limits even with armed security.

[@McKenzieLYano]

Yes we still eat people so, don't try to come extract minerals or use as a war field during wars.

[@flashrobbie]

@@McKenzieLYano sometimes I wish we did too.

[@jesslove8372]

Bullshit. I am Papua New Guinean. People like you give us a bad name to this day! Get your facts rights!!!

[@maloryj7165]

Aw, you're friend is lying to you. Lol sorry you didn't notice.

[@sarahmccullough5870]

The hands movements are wild 😂

[@maymellor7592]

As a pacific Islander myself, when I read about this many years ago knowing about the Papua New Guinea tribes, I thought that this was his unfortunate fate. Mr Ballen you are a fantastic story teller. Thank you ❤❤❤❤❤

[@PorcupineTheOneandOnly]

Fate, for sure.

[@KiKi-tf8rv]

Ageed

[@CT-uv8os]

New Guinea is still very dangerous. They've kept their taste for long pig so I've heard.

[@AlanaBananaCanada]

Pacific time zone gang 🙌🏻

[@april8293]

I am of the mind that the story is true. I know a number of people who sail in that region, and there is an unofficial 'no sail' advisory for the area. The reasons are a combination of pirates and cannibalism. You don't want any part of either, so just stay away. 😮

[@alexhazen2268]

Mr Ballen brings new meaning to Sunday Scaries! Best channel in the biz. Keep them coming Mr. Ballen!

[@PerryHughes-fs3hq]

I've been in recovery for addiction for a while now, haven't got to watch you for about a year, got a lot of catching up to do, but dang you're still as awesome as this as when you first started man!

[@ashleigh3188]

Congratulations on your recovery all the best to you!

[@PerryHughes-fs3hq]

@@ashleigh3188 thank you!

[@Fantastic_Six]

@Perryhughes so you're just like every other person in the country , recovering or addicted , stay strong my man

[@teahlee351]

@@Fantastic_Six Not all of us, but that just means there's other issues smh.

[@teahlee351]

Good luck with your recovery! Enjoy, he's given us many!

[@yiluwididreaming6732]

This dude with all the over the top hand gestures and expressions detailing freaky stories.....reminds me of that one mate who was the story teller around the camp fire, with a few billies and a few more beers. Wow 9 million views tho!!!!! gawd love the internet!!!

[@joelewis.]

No Sunday is complete without the strange, dark, and mysterious!!!

[@MrBallen]

🙌🙌🙌

[@OneBadAssMoMo]

Agreed! 😊

[@ResinAlchemist2024]

I agree as well.😊

[@kingofgotham417]

​@@MrBallen You stole that slogan/saying and you know from where

[@lexified1501]

This story is so incredibly fascinating. I see it in two ways, one that Michael was like his family, and so entitled that he thought there was nothing his money couldn't buy. And the disrespect to the tribe cost him his life.. or maybe he was nothing like them and hated the life he lived and truly wanted to experience the life of the asmat people.. and maybe they accepted him and hid him when people came looking ... possibly making up that story so no one would ever know ... 🤷‍♀️

[@bencastor9207]

Yeah I don't believe they killed him, why would they tell someone the truth when they had been led to believe the Rockerfellas would wipe out their whole tribe if they found out, telling a guy from the west asking questions specifically about him is likely to relay the information back to his family. I think they lied because Michael had asked them to.

[@hankbellamy]

Yep I honestly believe that photo is of Rockefeller and he was apart of the tribe until his death

[@maloryj7165]

​@@hankbellamywhy do you think it's him? There were other white people around at that time.

[@thejaded]

​@@maloryj7165Cuz it was the only white fella seen in the video?

[@maloryj7165]

@@thejaded but there were all sorts of white missionaries around there at that time. There's no real reason to think the one white person they happened to see was the dead rockefeller.

[@alicewelsh7662]

I want you to know that you're one of only two youtubers where I don't skip the sponsor bit because they're so out of left field they're worth watching.

[@surge_quicki]

Mista GG has to be the other one. Those raps are always awesome.

[@Diacritic6]

I skip him. They're not worth watching.

[@aaa54583]

@@Diacritic6okay man youre cool

[@rokukou]

Who's the other one?

[@surge_quicki]

@@rokukou Mista gg, also never skip “The Why Files”

[@sombra6499]

Out of all the pranks you pulled to the like button, the Waldo one is the most diabolical one, they just gonna be looking for Waldo for ages and never find it💀

[@anndownsouth5070]

It's now 20 hours since the video dropped, but I haven't had time to watch it until now. I had a busy day, and this is now my relaxation and recharge time. Thank you, MrBallen

[@chizzelfingers]

typical pro America pro Trump pro gun badass American male. always leave u begging for more. that's what they do

[@meghanstevens6104]

Mr. Ballen takes talking with your hands to a whole other level

[@CBDHAZE420]

Never even noticed how much he does it 😂

[@essbee387]

He identifies as Italian

[@AKAGoldenHairSurprise]

I do the same thing but not Italian

[@vicromaker7692]

can't watch, hand movement too fast and causing a strobe-like flashing effect

[@Watermelon-r7c]

Thanks now I can’t stop looking at his hands when he talks

[@SeauxNOLALady]

I am pretty sure that the poor man was indeed a victim of the tribe’s violent revenge. Many people mistakenly believe that they can intrude into a completely unknown culture and avoid being offensive or even what’s considered hostile. I’m sad that this man has been so unnecessarily killed by his own ignorance… I can’t imagine how terrified he must have been. Sad story all together

[@frostyjim2633]

Yes, Baltimore is no place to visit as a tourist.

[@tresajohnston9519]

​@@frostyjim2633😂😂😂 Former Baltimore native. I absolutely agree!!! 😂😂😂

[@davidabest7195]

Blaming a murder victim is cool

[@greenwave819]

That's because many cultures have met in non-violence of the course of humanity... think about how trade routes existed between Europe and Asia. Only violent tribes respond with violence.

[@PumpkinJuice69]

@@greenwave819That's absolutely not true. Trade only worked because you had something worth trading for. Asia had silks and spices. Africa had gold and salt. The majority of trade was nonviolent but disputes of religion were very violent. Let's not forget the way Europe pilaged America believing it was Asia.

[@Lorenamaysing]

Yeah i had never heard the last part of that story. 😢 Everyone hoped he integrated with them but this actually makes way more since to me. If he had been living with them someone would have pointed someone in the right direction to find him after so many ppl out there listening.

[@MxRavenJay]

A part of me believes that the tribesmen may have told Milt that brutal story so that people would stop looking for Michael; as per his wishes. Michael liked where he ended up and wanted to stay there. It's what I would do, if an indigenous tribe accepted me and I wanted to leaved my previous life behind.

[@smiley4995]

Honestly I hope so too

[@dennisvanderstraten5608]

That's what I thought as an alternative too! 👍

[@marcioferreira9353]

Idk, the brutal narrative seems way more credible, tbh

[@dennisvanderstraten5608]

@@marcioferreira9353 true

[@corneliashields9202]

The cannibal story was said to be a cover for what really happened, but what I wonder is whether Michael joined the tribe voluntarily or was captured and prevented from leaving.

[@loz6795]

I live in Australia and it is very well known that to this day there are still cannibals in PNG. Needless to say I believe this story is more then likely what really happened and as soon as I saw the title that was exactly my first thought about what had happened to him. The sad part is although Michael wanted to be different then his family he still had a greed that ultimately cost him his life. RIP Michael Rockerfeller 🙏🏻😢

[@foxwoodjones9831]

It can be hard to shed what has been ingrained in you since birth, even if/when you desperately want to. Edit/ this comment was in reference to your last sentence talking about him wanting to be different from his family, but still being greedy.

[@Xbalanque84]

His folly still didn't warrant such a barbaric end. There is a special place in Hell for those elders.

[@missmorena1049]

Those elders sons and grandsons are doing the same thing to your people, worldwide!

[@elizabethparsons1071]

​@@Xbalanque84I mean, he fucked around and found out. He wanted to trade tobacco and sweets for something held sacred by the tribe. Very American of him. It was also very well known that the tribe was violent to outsiders and known to likely be cannibals. He made a choice and it was dumb but he made it

[@loz6795]

@@Xbalanque84 it’s a way of life for them. As I said there are still head hunters and cannibals to this day. The so called civilised people aren’t much better either. They have a “payback” system. Meaning if you harm one of them their family will come for you. An eye of an eye so to speak. Scary place really. A friend of mine worked there and ended up getting malaria as well. Even the bugs are evil 👿

[@jaketovar6174]

Got a lot of crazy feelings about how the family is just sticking with the easiest story they can. If there was even the slightest suspicion that a family member of mine was dismembered and eaten during a ritual and I had those resources I would move Heaven and Earth to find out the truth and take the appropriate actions for what the information provided.

[@ilbercgross4736]

That is an eye for an eye. Or worse. But what is more believable, Michael drowning in 10 miles of choppy water, making it to shore and living out his life with the tribe or making it to shore just to be killed? 10 miles in the ocean is a long way to swim, especially with sharks and other creatures in the waters.

[@gogirl1621]

What is it is your family members who eat someone. What will you do, will you run to the authorities?

[@PorcupineTheOneandOnly]

It's a fictional whodunit and a hypothetical scenario. MrBallen said it was called Savage Harvest and showed the photo. A good dramatic whodunit would only sell so well to become a new York Times Bestseller with the juiciest dramatic storyline. People eat it up. But there was no murder. Research it.

[@isaiahdaniels5643]

Yeah but torture doesn't work because they know what you want to hear, and genocide is just genocide (bad PR). So like, what can you realistically do?

[@zachmitchell8982]

I mean he fucked around and found out. If you don’t want to be eaten by a cannibal tribe don’t go onto their territory and insult them

[@UncleBiccy]

Grandad used to work with mining geologists in New Guinea during the 60's. He said some tribemen were killers and crazy. So he carried a shotgun and a machete and lived to tell the tale.

[@gadsabbah8381]

Some places are forbidden to strangers, take it as a tip!! Great story mrballen 🥊

[@encycl07pedia-]

This place wasn't forbidden. They got visitors and most of them survived.

[@sirwilliamclickclack7492]

Amen

[@joenysfraticelli9485]

​​@@encycl07pedia-most of them have actual respect and understand is not "white man's land". Regular laws don't actually apply there so either you follow their values and laws or pay for it however they think fair 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@Appalachia_Ape]

Strangers are only strangers for as long as we allow them to be. That said, I'm a big proponent of keeping and bearing arms. No sense in going into a situation like that unarmed. You could contact that tribe 99 times, even become friends, but on that 100th time if circumstances dictate it so, they will kill you. They'll kill you because at the end of the day, no matter how close you think you are, YOU'RE NOT THEIR PEOPLE.

[@JuiceBoxx_627]

The Sentinel islands are forbidden, that tribe will unalived 99.9% of people coming to their island before you even touch the sand. They're the border patrol world champs. I want to say it's Japan it's near and they have banned people from going anywhere near the island, but one young white Christian male took it up on himself to go there, multiple times, to "save" them by converting them to Christianity and he never made it back home. People just need to leave these tribes alone.

[@Drache-dt7be]

This is one of those channels where you can click the like button right away without ever regretting it 😀

[@BeRightBack131]

I do that, too! 😅

[@martacosta9542]

So true..I did it fr 🙂

[@huskylove8637]

That's how I watch 🎉

[@roxyabrooks864]

Pro Tip: Click the like button every time you watch any episode new or old. That way, you can keep track of all of the great stories that you've seen and the great ones yet to be seen!

[@Mandyyy2420]

​@@roxyabrooks864I do that too! 😊

[@jayrhodes3766]

Holy moly! The fact that he could have been rescued if he’d only waited a little longer…wow. edit: can't believe this blew up the way it did. 🙂

[@Tone_Deaf_Bard-420]

I know.. I would've begged him to stay until the next morning if I was the other guy. I would've told him that it's still too early to leave and that it would be bad to go alone.

[@valerietaft657]

How very very sad! Michael was fascinated with this tribe but he obviously never understood that all the goods in the world wouldn’t let him barter for a pole that was so sacred!

[@jayrhodes3766]

@@valerietaft657 exactly! Different things, customs, history…all these count toward how groups of people act. And him being a rich while man, well, that rarely goes well with indigenous peoples.

[@jayrhodes3766]

@husseinal-zubeidiafgy1522 exactly! Well, all but the trying to barter for the statues.

[@bayuhartanto281]

Because he was a Rockefeller.

[@RobertPrice-r6x]

Even being a member of the richest and most powerful family. Couldn't save him..

[@ivorybow]

I am a retired anthropologist. Michael was rich enough to spend time first being trained by an anthropologist on how to not die from hubris and ethnocentrism. So sad for his family.

[@williamsmith9332]

i think there family is doing fine

[@pandahsykes602]

“Ethnocentrism” 😂 you sound like a clown

[@eroccha]

@@williamsmith9332 ??

[@finished6267]

There there.

[@fbiagent3998]

His family that knew him is kinda dead now

[@backtothestartjft]

Its 9.10pm over here in England and I'm absolutely buzzing for my bedtime story from the best storyteller of our times 😊 I really hope you understand just how loved and how appreciated that you are Mr Ballen...I love me my Sundays. I listen to your podcasts twice a week on amazon too!! In so happy you've blown your content up the way it has 🙏🤍 can never get enough ✨️

[@johnstamps4829]

3:32 PM, layed down for a nap until I got a post notification that he uploaded a video, nap will have to wait!

[@generalkweizr7091]

​@@johnstamps4829 where are you watching from?

[@barneyronnie]

I wish that could immigrate to England; the States are getting overwhelmed with crime and homelessness. There are too many gun crazy people over here. I have a PhD in mathematics and have taught at universities since 1984! Maybe I could obtain a work Visa, or better yet, meet a nice English lady. I AM single, having been divorced. Thanks, Ron

[@jamesheffley7108]

Wendigoon covered this story 2 years ago this is nothing new !

[@jamesheffley7108]

And he used to upload 4-5 times a week which is why he’s as popular as he is then he went down to 3 times a week then 2 times a week now once a week covering a story that’s already been largely covered

[@ralamarez60]

I saw this camera footage as well. The person on the Indigenous watercraft certainly LOOKS like Michael Rockefeller, at least from a distance and close-up of the film. The idea that he decided to live secretly with the people he came to study, is a better ending, imho. LOVE this mystery!💜

[@carmenm.478]

I took believe it was him living amongst them. I'm thinking this story is to mislead anyone who's looking for him.

[@happywithdrawal]

Same! I want to choose to believe that this ended happily over the other option 😅

[@annalis9555]

@@carmenm.478agree

[@JujuWoman_TheHealingFairyNg]

iPersonally wish he ACTUALLY stayed alive & preferred to stay with them cus he was accepted there, more than at home. But deep down...

[@ct5625]

@@carmenm.478 I think this story is just exploitation. Hoffman has made a pretty penny peddling this gruesome version, and there's absolutely zero evidence to support his claims while we have actual evidence of a white man living with them long after the murder allegedly took place. The probability of that white male being anyone else is ridiculously small and not worth considering. It's not like a dozen white men have all disappeared there. Considering everything we know, it's not rational to believe the extreme stories with no evidence, while ignoring the more simple explanation that actually comes with evidence. It's not "wishful thinking" to follow the known evidence instead of a profitable story with nothing to support it.

[@sunpangphithaksakorn8666]

Thanks for indicating which photo is not real which one is real. You are the only one being honest about using images to tell story. Thanks.

[@ZeranZeran]

I really appreciate that too.

[@Wistful77]

Explore With Us (EWU) uses real photos and indicates which ones are actual photos from the case. Yes, John's channel does really well with images, just pointing out he isn't the only one...

[@Wistful77]

Explore With Us (EWU) uses real photos and indicates which ones are actual photos from the case. Yes, John's channel does really well with images, just pointing out he isn't the only one...

[@aevans_87]

You are EXCELLENT at giving visuals to enhance the story narrative. It really feels like you were there with them 🥺

[@kashnlexy]

Shout-out to MrBallen for working so hard to tell us all these stories and podcasts all while raising a baby and responding to us, i appreciate it and wish you all the best 😊

[@stevewoods8116]

New meaning to "What's Eating You"

[@DreamerNal18]

This is taking “eat the rich” to a whole new level!

[@DarrenManson-hr2qm]

Why do the rich always use the cheapest crap, ie Titan, war.

[@ThisIsPodcastSpencer]

Direct action, really

[@judgeprime3730]

😂😂

[@LETMino85]

😂😂😂

[@wms72]

The Chinese communists cannnibalized the rich and property owners after their revolution. DISGUSTING and DEHUMANIZING

[@barbllm]

What happened to michael was horrible, but that photograph that you included of michael and profile with that grinning warrior behind him is just pure nightmare fuel

[@EizaPizza]

I’m so confused. Was that picture taken from the first time Michael visited or when he was rescued?

[@riswanda2620]

@@EizaPizza the first time he visit duh Don"t you think any photo of him when he was rescued would atleast be put as an evidence for the cannibal story?

[@EizaPizza]

@@riswanda2620 But it doesn’t make sense if the guy who went to visit in search of Michael has a picture of him after he would have supposedly been killed.

[@REALdavidmiscarriage]

which photo? time stamp pls

[@gregmaday1331]

Simply Google his name and you'll find the image. And, yes, it is quite creepy!