YouTuber confronts Benny Hinn at Illinois church event
A popular YouTuber's attempt to confront televangelist Benny Hinn during a Christian conference in Illinois ended with a chaotic scene caught on camera and shared with millions of viewers online.
According to the Christian Post, Footage from the incident shows Tyler Oliveira rushing the stage during the multiday Spirit Life Conference, leading to a physical takedown by security and raising broader questions about church accountability and online activism.
The disruption occurred between May 14 and May 16 at Lighthouse Church of All Nations in Alsip, Illinois, where Oliveira and his cameraman attended the Spirit Life Conference after purchasing $99 tickets.
Oliveira, who has over 7 million subscribers on YouTube, recorded his journey to the church and stated in a video released last week that his goal was to confront Hinn. He claimed the pastor would "face judgment" over what he views as manipulative religious practices.
As Hinn was concluding a prayer before the crowd, Oliveira stormed the stage and interrupted the service. He called the preacher a “false prophet” and accused him of deception in front of an alarmed audience.
YouTube Video Sparks Outrage and Support
The incident, partially documented in a YouTube video titled “I Exposed the Most Corrupt Churches in America,” shows Hinn visibly gasping and appearing rattled by the unexpected confrontation as security intervened.
Security personnel quickly restrained Oliveira and escorted him out. In the video, Oliveira accused the security team of physically assaulting both him and his cameraman during their removal.
“Got hog-tied, body-slammed, and tackled,” Oliveira said in the video, claiming aggressive force was used against him on church grounds.
Cameraman Claims Assault While Fleeing
Oliveira’s cameraman, identified only as Pasha, also described experiencing violence while trying to avoid the confrontation. He claimed he was struck by a golf cart and thrown into the street.
“They kept beating my head,” Pasha said. He also alleged church staff attempted to delete the footage from his camera during the struggle.
Footage from the incident has since drawn over 4 million views on YouTube, sparking debate over both Hinn’s ministry and Oliveira’s tactics. As of the Wednesday following the video's release, Lighthouse Church of All Nations had not issued a public comment.
Oliveira’s Wider Criticism of Megachurches
Oliveira has recently published videos targeting leaders of what he calls the “prosperity gospel” movement. His investigations have included visits to churches led by Joel Osteen, Kenneth Copeland, and others.
The confrontation with Hinn, he stated, was part of his ongoing attempt to shed light on what he sees as financial exploitation within certain religious institutions.
“While I was getting the George Floyd treatment fighting for each breath,” Oliveira said in the video, “my cameraman ran for his life to avoid a similar fate.”
Benny Hinn’s Past Reflections on Ministry
Though often associated with lavish preaching and miracle-healing services, Hinn has publicly distanced himself from prosperity gospel teachings in recent years.
In 2019, he stated he no longer supports asking followers to give large sums of money in exchange for divine blessings. “I think it's an offense to the Holy Spirit to place a price on the Gospel,” he said during a broadcast.
In a 2025 interview, Hinn acknowledged his past mistakes and said he succumbed to ministry pressures. He asked followers for forgiveness, saying he no longer wanted to be associated with what he called “gimmickry.”



