The Story of Spanian: From Criminal to Social Media Star

Despite having a long criminal history, Spanian has become a popular internet sensation, but many are still left wondering about their true identity.

Anthony Lees, now 37 years old and also known as ‘Spanian’ on the internet, acquired his nickname during his time as a teenager in Cobham Youth Justice Centre in Werrington, located in western Sydney.

Since inmates gave him the moniker Spanian, the ex-convict has achieved an online presence and become successful through several social media platforms.

With an impressive following of almost 700,000 on YouTube, 620,000 on Instagram, and over 510,000 on TikTok, Spanian’s rise from a criminal to a controversial social media sensation is remarkable.

Reasons for Spanian Being in Jail

Despite only being 30 years old, Spanian has already spent 13 years in prison, and his extensive criminal record is a significant aspect of his personal brand. His autobiography, Spanian: The Unfiltered Hood Life, provides a comprehensive account of each of his crimes.

Unfortunately, obtaining a book may prove to be a challenge now that Spanian’s publishers have dropped him. As a result, copies are now being sold for exorbitant amounts on eBay, with some reaching hundreds of dollars. However, for those who are not willing to spend such a large sum, a summary of Spanian’s previous offenses and the corresponding prison terms is provided below.

A school siege using a knife (28 days at Cobham Youth Justice Centre)
A break and enter (100 days at Cobham Youth Justice Centre)
A ram raid on an ATM (Six months at Cobham Youth Justice Centre)
Stealing a bag outside Star City Casino (Five months at Parklea Correctional Centre)
Armed robbery causing grievous bodily harm with intent (11 months at Parklea Correctional Centre before the case was dropped due to the death of a key witness)
Using a vehicle as a weapon, fleeing an accident, and predatory driving (18 months at Junee Correctional Centre)
Attempted murder but pleaded to a lesser charge of reckless wounding (Three years and three months at Bathurst Correctional Centre)
Operating a criminal group, ongoing supply of commercial amounts of drugs, dealing with the process of crime, and three counts of recruiting a child to carry out an assisted criminal activity (He was sentenced to a maximum of eight years after being charged in 2011, but was released in 2017)

The Transformation of Spanian: From Criminal to Social Media Star

After serving multiple prison sentences, Spanian shifted his focus to achieving success on the internet. Although his initial videos on YouTube showcased his efforts as a drill rapper, it was not the catalyst for his rise to fame.

Spanian experimented with various formats on his YouTube channel, from trying out different cuisines to providing fitness tips, in order to appeal to a wide range of audiences.

However, what caused the ex-convict to quickly gain attention was a string of homophobic and transphobic diatribes that were shared on his Instagram account on February 25, 2023, coinciding with WorldPride.

“Spanian expressed frustration with the presence of individuals who use Pride as a cover for their predatory behavior, likening them to child groomers. He stated, “I am tired of this disgusting, perverted behavior being hidden behind the guise of gay pride.”

Despite being called out by numerous fellow content creators and artists for his rants, Spanian was swiftly dropped by his publisher and management in light of the controversy. Nevertheless, he was able to find his niche and develop a devoted fanbase once the dust had settled.

In his most recent YouTube series, called Into The Hood, the influencer visits several of the “most notorious and perilous neighborhoods,”most of which are located in his native country of Australia.

Spanion recently visited Logan City in Queensland, where he was greeted by hundreds of fans eager to meet him and participate in one of his videos. However, the event took a tumultuous turn when some locals got into conflicts with the police. As a result, two individuals were arrested and three police vehicles were damaged, as reported by ABC News.

The news of the incident spread rapidly, prompting Queensland Premier Steven Miles to address the issue in a public announcement. He warned both local “eshays”and out-of-state YouTube influencers that law enforcement will discover and put a stop to any hooning events.

It is definite that the hype surrounding Spanion will not be diminishing anytime soon, as the influencer declared, “Each episode only increases in popularity.”