David Blaine

Throughout human history, people have sacrificed greatly for causes they consider noble. But I can’t see any of that in David Blaine’s stunt. He sacrificed greatly, without a cause. This is stupid and abhorrent. If someone had come forth with an idea whereby he would plunge a knife into his chest, just an inch from his heart, as a publicity stunt, people would be apalled. And basically, this is what David Blaine has done, he has created a publicity stunt where he might have died, and where he did go through terrible physical sufferings, without a noble cause.

According to one Briton, as quoted by the BBC, "We've already been down once to see him and I think it's brilliant, what he's doing." Not everyone feels that way. Another Briton said “He is doing it to boost his ego, his popularity, and his bank balance — pure selfishness.”