Ludacris’ Social Media Post Receives 1.5 Million Views and Sparks Debate Over Untreated Glacial Water

Photo credit @ludacris

Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, the rapper-actor, stirred up some concern on social media recently when he shared a video of himself drinking water directly from an Alaska glacier. In the video, Ludacris is seen kneeling on the glacier, filling a water bottle with the clear, blue water from a melt pool, and taking a drink. His exclamation, “Oh my God!” as he tasted the water quickly went viral, amassing over 1.5 million views on Instagram and millions more on TikTok.

However, some viewers were worried about the potential health risks of drinking untreated water from a glacier, particularly the possibility of contamination with the parasite giardia, which can cause severe gastrointestinal issues.

(Courtesy of Your Alaska Live TV) 

Ludacris, who was in Alaska to perform at the Alaska State Fair, took the opportunity to explore Knik Glacier, located about 40 miles north of Anchorage. Wearing ice cleats, he walked across the glacier, fulfilling a long-held wish. Reflecting on the experience in a later video from Minneapolis, he declared, “It was the best tasting water I’ve ever had in my life,” adding that he considers himself a “water snob.”

While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) generally advises against drinking untreated water from natural sources like lakes and rivers due to the risk of illnesses.

Alaska, home to around 100,000 glaciers covering approximately 28,800 square miles, offers many visitors a rare chance to see and experience glaciers up close.