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Talk Show Host Purposely Lights Magician Guest’s Head on Fire — And It Wasn’t a Magic Trick

Nov. 30, 2012 6:59pm
Talk Show Host Franklin Barazarte Lights Wayne Houchins Head on Fire

(YouTube)

A Dominican talk show host lit Las Vegas magician Wayne Houchin’s head on fire during the taping of a show — that much we know. What we don’t know is exactly why “Approach the Stars” host Franklin Barazarte decided to set his guest’s hair ablaze.

Meanwhile, Houchin is describing the incident as a “criminal attack” that caught him completely off guard. The magician suffered severe burns on his head, face and neck and is still in a great deal of pain.

“I was not aware he was going to do this. This was not a stunt or part of an act – this was a criminal attack,” Houchin wrote on his Facebook page. “I am in pain, but am recovering. I will update you on the situation when I can.”

He also thanked the producers of “Curiosidades,” the show he was promoting on “Approach the Stars,” for acting quickly and putting him out.

Talk Show Host Franklin Barazarte Lights Wayne Houchins Head on Fire

(YouTube)

Talk Show Host Franklin Barazarte Lights Wayne Houchins Head on Fire

Wayne Houchin (YouTube)

The wild incident was captured on video (Warning! Strong language):

Some have claimed Barazarte drenched Houchin in an extremely flammable liquid used by Caribbean shamans “in healing and cleansing rituals,” according to Gawker.

Also included on Houchin’s Facebook page is a link to a statement put out by the producers of “Curiosidades” who accuse Barazarte of trying to “bless” away Houchin’s evil spirits in some sort of exorcism-style ritual.

Houchin is a co-host on Discovery Channel’s “Breaking Magic.” It is unclear whether Barazarte will be criminally charged for the bizarre attack.

 

(H/T: Gawker)

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Comments (76)

1 2
  • G-WHIZ
    Posted on December 1, 2012 at 9:48am

    Houdini’s last moments were when he was goeing “OFF-STAGE” and an audience-fan went up to him and succer-punched him [hard] in the chest! The fan saw HOUDINI receive a very-hard blow to-the-chest, on-stage a few shows ago and he wanted to try it for himself. Well. Houdini was not “stressed-up” for the action(punch) so he was not expecting it. The very-hard instentanious punch
    hit his solarplexus, he was instantly parralized/could not breathe and suffocated-died in a minute!
    So, many things happen unexpectedly in “magic shows” (or after) when not prepaired-for happens.
    No-one expected this so no-one was prepaired to help….Houdini collapsed to the floor and died!

    Report this comment

    G-WHIZ  
    • CaffeinatedTXn
      Posted on December 1, 2012 at 11:25am

      A couple of things are wrong with your story.

      First, while it is true that Houdini was not prepared to be punched, J. Gordon Whitehead did not punch him in the solar plexus. Whitehead punched him four times in the lower abdomen.

      Second, Houdini did not die immediately. He died four days later, of peritonitis, caused by a ruptured appendix. It is suspected, but not confirmed, that Whitehead’s punches to Houdini’s abdomen were the direct cause of the rupture.

      Report this comment

      CaffeinatedTXn  
    • Guringo
      Posted on December 1, 2012 at 5:38pm

      G-Whiz,

      You gotta be one sorry excuse for a moron. Next time just say “NO BRAINS – WE GOOGLE FIRST AND THEN WE PRETEND WE SMARTS”.

      Report this comment

      Guringo  
    • The Giver
      Posted on December 1, 2012 at 10:39pm

      One guy says… “No, he’s really burned”. Another one says, ” I knew he would do something like this one day” ( I am not sure who he was referring to). And then “let’s take him to he hospital”.

      Report this comment

      The Giver  
  • JACKTHETOAD
    Posted on December 1, 2012 at 9:03am

    Not only can’t you fix stupid, but it’s tough to put out too.

    Report this comment

    JACKTHETOAD  
    • ltb
      Posted on December 1, 2012 at 10:40am

      Something you’ll never hear an actor tell his agent: β€œBook me on that show… you know, the one where the host lights his guests’ hair on fire when they’re not looking.”

      Report this comment

      ltb  
    • DenverKitty
      Posted on December 1, 2012 at 11:58am

      Agreed.

      Report this comment

      DenverKitty  
  • Mr.Fitnah
    Posted on December 1, 2012 at 8:46am

    Presto your sh1t is on fire. WTF
    Ex TV host can get work as an arsonist..

    Report this comment

    Mr.Fitnah  
  • asybot12
    Posted on December 1, 2012 at 3:33am

    @:FRUST@TED, you are missing something (besides logic) I believe it may be an “r”.

    Report this comment

    asybot12  
  • SIXFRIGATES
    Posted on December 1, 2012 at 12:51am

    And the award for worst camera work goes to…

    Report this comment

    SIXFRIGATES  
  • dontbotherme
    Posted on December 1, 2012 at 12:18am

    I had a massive 2nd degree burn on my right forearm a few years ago. It was extraordinarily painful. Skin does not stop burning when the fire goes out. I feel sorry for this man & I hope that he received the proper medical care quickly.

    Report this comment

    dontbotherme  
  • Chancellor
    Posted on December 1, 2012 at 12:11am

    Too bad he wasn’t interviewing Chairman Hussain!

    Report this comment

    Chancellor  
    • JACKTHETOAD
      Posted on December 1, 2012 at 8:58am

      Funniest thing I’ve seen in a while. Wasn’t he Michael Jackson’s hairdresser too? …talk about a good flaming.

      Report this comment

      JACKTHETOAD  
  • dflvdr
    Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:27pm

    Are you serious? Purposely? I’ve read the media hype around this, Wayne is asking for donations, talking about taking advantage of a situation. The picture above doesn’t show SEVERE BURNS. I don’t wish this on anybody but it looks like the dude in the left has the lighter, girl on the right has the liquid, and the host is the only one who wants to put out the flames. They all just stand there. The only guy interested in putting it out is the HOST! This media hype is wrong and does exactly what magicians are trained to do, trick people! This SCREAMS accident! If you looking for a law suit, good luck doing that in a third world country ranked at the very highest in corruption, crime, and violence. Seems like Mr. Houchin isn’t so bad after all, a severe burned victim is usually hospitalized for weeks! This was supposedly a few days ago and he’s posting online. Sorry, I feel for wayne but how this story is being spun is just WRONG.

    Report this comment

    dflvdr  
    • Luckywon
      Posted on December 1, 2012 at 12:24am

      What did you watch? There was no lighter. The flammable liquid was being cupped in the hosts hands and he slapped it onto the dudes head where it reacted with something and spontaneousely burst into flames! What the hell were YOU watching? Of course he was interested in putting the fire out, he caused it! But, all his slapping of the guys head did was fan the flames with his oil coated hands.

      Luckywon  
    • Luckywon
      Posted on December 1, 2012 at 12:26am

      and the girl on the right has a microphone in her hands, not a bottle of liquid. Sheesh, I swear, some people…. and by that, I am meaning YOU.

      Report this comment

      Luckywon  
    • USAMama
      Posted on December 1, 2012 at 4:57am

      I don’t believe you know much about burns! I know just from minor kitchen burns that the worst pain isn’t immediate. It hurts but give it a half hour and that’s when the pain really kicks in! Look how red his face is, are you kidding me?! I guarantee you when the shock wore off he was in some serious pain!!

      Report this comment

      USAMama  
    • xmilitary
      Posted on December 1, 2012 at 8:59am

      LUCKYONE asked, “What the hell were YOU watching?”

      Lucky is stunned when a rabbit is pulled from a hat or things disappear. (OMG, it was right there and suddenly *poof* it was gone!) Lucky only believes what Lucky can see when a magician is on stage. It’s a good thing Lucky is lucky.

      BTW, a magician who makes a living giving away the secrets of magic might be putting himself at risk. This sort of thing probably wouldn’t happen in the USA, but take your sorry butt down to a third world nation and you might just face a little revenge from some peasant who earns a living tricking the other peasants. Just sayin’.

      Report this comment

      xmilitary  
    • dflvdr
      Posted on December 1, 2012 at 11:12am

      @LUCKYWON – Look closely in the video… you so ignorant. The girl has a bottle in her left hand (the microphone in her right hand) and the guy in the red shirt has a yellow lighter in his hand. Why are you defending these people anyways, aren’t they with the TV Host? Open your eyes and watch the only video stupid! I swear. Oil coated hands? flammable liquid? No lighter, huh? How in the world does a flammable liquid just spark on fire? HENCE, FLAMMABLE! Means you must put fire to start it. And now its oil on his hands? get your facts right.

      Report this comment

      dflvdr  
    • Armed Patriot
      Posted on December 1, 2012 at 11:43am

      What do you know about severe burns my friend?

      At 15 I was set on fire and my entire chest was burned, second degree. My skin hung down below my crotch. Severe enough? After going to the hospital, being cooled, cleaned, dressed, and medicated, I was home within hours. You should not speak in absolutes and insult of the things you know so little about.

      Thank God this man was not more severely hurt. I feel your pain brother. I wish you a speedy recovery.

      Report this comment

      Armed Patriot  
    • Valkaneer
      Posted on December 2, 2012 at 2:55pm

      @dflvdr Wow, Troll more? You have to be a troll, you can clearly see the man has his hands cupped in a bowl shape as he brings his hands above the Magicans head he says something and lights the mans head on fire. Looks to me that the Host was doing a magic trick of his own on this guy, but porpusly burning the unprepared mans, head. Then proceded the smack the crap out of him, which looked to me much more as if he was smacking his head in aggression. I have to agree with the guy that says this was payback for telling peoples secrets, sounds a lot more correct and on the right track. Of coarse to a troll like yourself what does the truth matter, you just want to start arguments, sit back and laugh.

      Report this comment

      Valkaneer  
  • rtlane28
    Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:21pm

    This was clearly George Bush’s fault……

    Report this comment

    rtlane28  
  • Kr15t1
    Posted on November 30, 2012 at 9:48pm

    My brother once held a candle too close to his head during a blackout while he was looking for more candles in a cabinet. This was decades ago; before all the hair products. His hair on that side of his head almost instantly disappeared. It just poofed away. I’m looking at this guy after his head was on fire and, WOW, hair intact and no visible burns except for a small red mark on his forehead, for which he needs an ambulance. This was totally staged.

    Report this comment

    Kr15t1  
  • Obamujahadeen
    Posted on November 30, 2012 at 9:20pm

    ”CRIMINAL ACT” is absolutely right. Ever since Geraldo got chair slapped by Nazi Skinheads in the ”Morton Downey loudmouth” days these ‘hosts’ spend all their time trying to one up one another, and YOU TUBE makes it even more competitive in the ‘idiot for a day million download clown of the week’ race these people are all engaged in hoping to become the next US overnight bling bling – enstein…

    Report this comment

    Obamujahadeen  
  • MrKnowItAll
    Posted on November 30, 2012 at 9:04pm

    I been Burned pretty bad. The Pain is Horrid. I feel for this guy.

    Report this comment

    MrKnowItAll  
  • daxbrady
    Posted on November 30, 2012 at 8:43pm

    could have been static electricity that started the fire. dont know why exactly they had flammable liquid on his head in the first place though.

    Report this comment

    daxbrady  
  • J-Law
    Posted on November 30, 2012 at 8:39pm

    Until further information is available, the word “purposely” needs to be removed from the headline. There is no indication he lit it on purpose. There is no lighter in his hand. It also seems suspicious that the video doesn’t show ANY of the actions leading up to it. What it looks like to me is he is putting this flammable liquid on the guy’s head as mentioned in the article, and then it sparks. He appears to be trying to smother the flames after he realizes what happened. Who knows, maybe it’s a combination of hair product and this flammable liquid. Either way, the headline is sensational and dishonest until we actually know what happened. I expect more from you, Blaze. This is no way to change the media landscape.

    Report this comment

    J-Law  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on November 30, 2012 at 8:19pm

    Just an Obama supporter…..

    Fired Up !!! Ready to Go ???

    Report this comment

    The-Monk  
    • Platonician
      Posted on November 30, 2012 at 8:40pm

      In fact, we should hire a Latin shaman to perform such a healing ritual on Obama’s head. It would heal the World.

      Report this comment

      Platonician  
  • frust@ted
    Posted on November 30, 2012 at 7:55pm

    This looked somewhat staged to me, notice the reaction of the other two people standing around him, they don’t move they don’t even flinch. Unless you knew what was about to happen when you saw fire like that you would make an instant move to help or get out of the way, you reaction isn’t to stand their calmly. Even the man who was lit on fire did not move, if a man unexpectedly moves his hands twoards your face your initial response would be to pull your head back. Lastly if it was an attack why did the man who set the fire stay by the mans side afterwards and try to help him. Somehting smells wrong.

    Report this comment

    frust@ted  
  • ArmedAndReallyPissed
    Posted on November 30, 2012 at 7:49pm

    I hear they are heading for the “hardball” stage next.

    Report this comment

    ArmedAndReallyPissed  
  • Rajabear1
    Posted on November 30, 2012 at 7:48pm

    I knew it! Before I opened the story, I told my daughter it would be one of the shows from telemundo that her Nana and family watches all the time. It may not be on telemundo, but it is absolutely latino/hispanic show. If you ever get the inkling to see how peoples mind works, go watch a latino station for a days worth of broadcasting–from the kiddie’s show in the am to the late night talk in the pm–and it will blow your mind. It’s even better if you can have someone to translate and really understand what is poured into the latinos/mexican/hispanics brains who are living here, legal or otherwise.
    It almost has a feel of being light years behind the US, yet the stations are based here and the people live here many times. It is so bizarre how they relate to the viewers like they have no access to education, other channels, heck, even able to turn on a computer.
    My kids family have been here for generations like many in their neighborhood, and I swear, for years I could not understand why it seemed like they had just come up from the most isolated part of mexico with their lack of problem solving, very primitive and local mindset and lack of comprehending logic and they had been here their entire lives. It’s because them and everyone around them would watch crap like this, day in and day out. It’s generational, and very few actually ever break free. So glad I got my kids out eons ago.

    Report this comment

    Rajabear1  
    • frust@ted
      Posted on November 30, 2012 at 8:03pm

      You sir are misguided, i hope for your childrens sake you spend more time getting to know mexicans in your community. I don’t think you are racisit, as i don’t think you hate mexicans or wish them ill will, but your comments do show that you have sterotyped mexicans and it is clouding your judgement.

      Report this comment

      frust@ted  
    • Platonician
      Posted on November 30, 2012 at 8:59pm

      @Rajabear1
      You are right, mainstream Latin TV treats people like idiots BUT, so does Msm Anglo American entertainment shows. What you say about those persons and their lack of logic, culture, etc. can be said about the average individual, whose only or principal source of information is TV and entertainment shows, the majority in fact, independently of their ethnicity. And it is tragic that most entertainment shows around the world are based on American ones, thus expanding the depraved worldview of liberal sodomite Hollywood. You perceived it in those shows because you are less conditioned to accept such stupidity as normal, but if you watch most American entertainment shows with a critical eye you will see the same infecting depravity.

      Report this comment

      Platonician  
    • ChiefGeorge
      Posted on November 30, 2012 at 10:55pm

      There is much truth to what you are saying. The media molds the people….anywhere!

      Mexican TV has this fascination with home invasion and rape…rape not only of the woman but of the man. these movies appear to be decades old but they like to show them still! Why? Are they trying to create monsters? I think yes!

      Report this comment

      ChiefGeorge  
    • ChiefGeorge
      Posted on November 30, 2012 at 10:59pm

      Raja appears to be atleast Mexican! What are you Frustrated…besides frustrated?

      I can tell when someone has some insight into the inner workings of the mind…even though its not professional…..your take is like a drive by PC rapid firing squad taking no prisoners.

      Report this comment

      ChiefGeorge  
    • ChiefGeorge
      Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:04pm

      Plate!

      Right on about looking at American TV with a critical eye….if you look closely enough you can see the demonization of White Americans everyday…turning them into utter idiots while lifting up other cultures.

      We operate at a different level for sure but its no doubt by design. Watch and all you have to do is reverse roles of those on TV and see if it would work or spark outrage. I like the recent one where the Black Woman is at a TV screen and shooshes with her finger on the mouth of a White man to be quiet while she views the TV. Would that fly the opposite way? Heck no! That company would still be picking itself up after the media onslaught.

      Report this comment

      ChiefGeorge  
    • thegreatcarnac
      Posted on December 1, 2012 at 1:28pm

      Raja…..you are not a racist. Your observations are correct. Remember that.

      Report this comment

      thegreatcarnac  
    • FormerLib
      Posted on December 2, 2012 at 9:42am

      Frusty, my boy/girl/whatever…you do know that Latino does not equal Mexican, do you not? Mexicans are Latinos, but not all Latinos are Mexican in the same way that grass is green, but not all that is green is grass. And pointing out cultural differences is not racist. Go spend serious time time among minority communities here or go abroad and you will quickly learn from whence stereotypes come. While not all of a certain group fit them, there is enough truth to them to see why they exist.

      Report this comment

      FormerLib  
  • N37BU6
    Posted on November 30, 2012 at 7:37pm

    I don’t even see him igniting it… I honestly think this was accidental.

    Static electricity, maybe?

    Report this comment

    N37BU6  
    • N37BU6
      Posted on November 30, 2012 at 7:42pm

      Wait, I see the guy onο»Ώ the left holding a lighter now.

      Either stupidity and ignorance, or an outright attack.

      Report this comment

      N37BU6  
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on November 30, 2012 at 7:28pm

    .
    Why do people even go to those backward primitive H*LL-HOLES?

    Report this comment

    LeadNotFollow  
    • SPIN_MD
      Posted on November 30, 2012 at 7:47pm

      The only reason I can think of is that it is sort of like getting in a time machine and going back a few centuries.

      Report this comment

      SPIN_MD  
    • DIgnified
      Posted on November 30, 2012 at 7:56pm

      Go to Texas. Same time machine hellhole effect without a flight.

      Report this comment

      DIgnified  
    • TIME_THE_AVENGER
      Posted on December 1, 2012 at 3:44am

      You’re safe there “dignified’. Feces doesn’t burn.

      Report this comment

      TIME_THE_AVENGER  
  • Brooke Lorren
    Posted on November 30, 2012 at 7:13pm

    Set fire to your hair, poke a stick at a grizzly bear…

    Sorry, I couldn’t resist. Not sure what the heck is wrong with that guy. What sort of an idiot would go set fire to somebody else’s head?

    Report this comment

    Brooke Lorren  
    • John 1776
      Posted on November 30, 2012 at 7:29pm

      Ha! Yea, that stupid song popped right into my mind when I read the headline. Been trying to get it out of my head for a week now!

      Report this comment

      John 1776  
  • drenfroe
    Posted on November 30, 2012 at 7:11pm

    You’d think the president would be talking internationally against this kind of treatment of an American. Problem is he’s white so they probably won’t. Should be held as an international incident though.

    Report this comment

    drenfroe  
  • South Philly Boy
    Posted on November 30, 2012 at 7:05pm

    He must of had that GREASY KIDS STUFF on his head

    Report this comment

    South Philly Boy  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on November 30, 2012 at 7:05pm

    If it qualifies as an attack by their laws, throw the book at the man.

    Report this comment

    Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on November 30, 2012 at 7:03pm

    You couldn’t just pick a card?

    Report this comment

    progressiveslayer  
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