Balloons carry David Blaine into the sky for ‘Up’-like stunt in ‘Ascension’ breaks record for most-viewed YouTube live event

The well-known illusionist soared into the sky with a clutch of giant balloons on Wednesday, Hiss live stunt Ascension, in which he flew over the Arizona desert using helium balloons, has shattered a YouTube record.

The views outnumbered those of past YouTube Original events, such as Dear Class of 2020 (665,000 peak concurrents), The Creator Games Presented by MrBeast (662,000), Will Smith: The Jump (over 300,000), and Taylor Swift: Lover’s Lounge Live (over 185,000).

He was floating thanks to 52 large, helium-filled balloons made from latex and arranged to carry his weight high into the sky. Blaine appeared to hold onto the balloons with one hand as part of his latest stunt, which was recorded by a series of cameras rigged throughout the balloons.

His balloon stunt, called “Ascension,” was originally slated to take place in New York City, but he moved it to Arizona amid concerns about wind conditions. He says the stunt was inspired by the 1956 film The Red Balloon, although most modern audiences will probably be more familiar with a similar occurrence from Pixar’s Up.

Millions tuned into YouTube to watch the stunt live or catch the highlights after it was complete. It was Blaine’s first live stunt in several years.