“The craziest experience of my life.”

Man who tricked people into believing he was Pitbull comes face to face with real musician: ‘My heart was racing’

"The craziest experience of my life."

By Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman is a news writer for with previous work in MUBI Notebook, Slant, and the LA Review of Books.

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January 6, 2026 4:44 p.m. ET

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Brad Stoll and Pitbull. Credit:

Brad Stoll/Tiktok (2)

Mr. Worldwide has finally met his match.

Back in November, comedian Brad Stoll convinced an entire Los Angeles nightclub that he was Armando Christian Pérez, the singer and reggaeton rapper known by the moniker Pitbull. "You don't look like Pitbull," Stoll's friend said in the TikTok that turned him into a viral star, as he put finishing touches on his look-alike getup, before the video cut to a DJ introducing Stoll as Pitbull.

In a follow-up video, posted on New Year's Eve, Stoll took the bit as far as it would go, crashing Pitbull's sold-out show in Las Vegas and even meeting the musician face to face. "Everybody knows [Pitbull] doesn't wait to get into his own concert!" Stoll cheekily captioned the TikTok.**

In the new video, Stoll and Pitbull share a friendly embrace as cameras flash. "I see you had a good time the other night," Pitbull jokes, gesturing to Stoll's body swap. "Oh dude, I had a great time," Stoll tells him, to which Pitbull graciously replies, "That's amazing."

"I'm from Boca Raton, Fla., meeting Mr. 305," Stoll says, referencing the Miami-Dade county area code that Pitbull frequently shouts out in his songs. "Oh them Boca boys!" Pitbull explains. As the two lock hands and pose for the cameras, Pitbull shouts out, "One time you already know it is, from the 305 to the 561," concluding with an enthusiastic joint "dale!" — a Spanish slang term roughly translating to "Let's go!" that Pitbull frequently works into lyrics and ad libs.**

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"I did not think in my wildest dreams we were actually going to get in touch with the man," Stoll told CBC News in a Sunday interview. "Halloween of 2025, I decided to dress up like Pitbull. I convinced everybody at this bar that I was Pitbull."

Stoll explained to anchor Ian Hanomansing that after his initial TikTok shot past 22 million views, *New Year's Rockin' Eve*, which has broadcast the end-of-year ball drop each year since 1972, contacted him with the opportunity to meet his celebrity look-alike.****"I had to go to Vegas for New Year's. I walked in, I was like tunnel vision, my heart was racing," he recalled. "I was genuinely nervous, but as soon as I walked in, he knew exactly who I was. I was like, 'Mr. 561, I'm looking for Mr. 305,' and he started dying laughing. We Dale'd together which was hilarious. The craziest experience of my life. So surreal."

Pitbull performing on New Year's Eve 2025.

Christopher Polk/Penske Media via Getty

This year, *New Year's Rockin' Eve *aired for eight hours, the longest broadcast since the original 1972 edition. Hosted by Ryan Seacrest for the 20th year in a row, the broadcast was cohosted by Rita Ora, and featured appearances from Chance the Rapper, Rob Gronkowski, Julianne Hough, and Roselyn Sánchez across the country as satellite cohosts.

Pitbull was joined by Lil Jon in his performance, though the evening also saw Charlie Puth, Chappell Roan, Diana Ross, Mariah Carey, Maren Morris, Post Malone, and more make appearances.**

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