A social media influencer who asked the internet for $16,000 to fund a trip for him and his girlfriend has finally spoken out after receiving serious backlash for the plea.
Catalin Onc and his girlfriend Elena Engelhardt launched a GoFundMe campaign with a target of €10,000 (NZ$17,250) so they could tandem cycle to Africa last week.
The couple, who have a combined Instagram page called Another Beautiful Day, explained they needed the money to fund their travels and keep (followers) up-to-date.
But their "ridiculous" request backfired with their furious followers demanding they "get a job".
A post shared by CAT AND ELI (@another_beautiful_day_official) on
Following the backlash, Catalin, who hails from Wolfsburg in northern Germany, quit Instagram to do some "soul work" — but has now returned to respond to the heavy criticism.
He shared a video showing him writing on a piece paper and holding it up to the screen — it read: "Sometimes it's better to say nothing".
He then drops it from between his hands and forms a love-heart shape with his fingers.
However, he didn't appear to get the response he was hoping for, with the bizarre reappearance angering many.
"I seriously thought you were gonna say you found a job???" one person wrote.
"Your break from social media didn't last long … 6 days?," another commented.
"What happened to staying offline for 30 days?" another asked.
Since sharing the video, which has been viewed nearly 30,000 times, Catalin has continued to cop flak, especially after admitting his mother works two jobs to fund his lavish Instagram lifestyle.
A post shared by CAT AND ELI (@another_beautiful_day_official) on
"Get a job and pay back your mother!" a follower commented on his post.
"Can I start a gofundme for your mother who's working two jobs to send you on vacay so you don't have to work?" said another
"Sometimes its better to give ur mum a break and get a job," a third person commented.
Others have said he should apologise and start a genuine, charitable fund for "people who need it more".
"You've built a platform that can actually help towards that. Commit to that 30 day 'walk' you posted about and realise that you're not so special that other hard working people should fund your lifestyle, and realise that you can actively work to start giving back," one follower explained.
The couple have raised about $1140 since asking the internet to fund their holiday. Photo / Supplied, gofundme.com
"This is pathetic, you asking for money for a trip is pathetic … get your privileged head out of your a** and grow up and wake up to the reality of the world. Disgraceful," another commented.
"No one is taking you serious anymore … I would recommend u also add, sometimes it's better to stay off social media forever."
Among the hundreds of comments slamming the influencer, some were in support of his journey.
"I don't know if you read the comments but I'm with you! Follow your heart !!! I'm sending all the love I have to you and your gf!!!"
"Stay strong. The haters here need to get their own lives," said another.
Why Catalin quit Instagram
LastMonday, the infamous influencer told his followers he would be "stepping away" from social media for a while to do some "soul work".
In the post captioned "Look within", alongside a photo of the two words tattooed under his right eye, Catalin explained he would be doing the hardest thing he'd ever done mentally and physically.
"Let's be honest, you're stepping away from social media, because of all the flak you're getting for begging normal people to pay for your lifestyle," one person commented.
'Get a job'
In a previous post, Catalin said some people would just tell them to get jobs "like everyone else and stop begging".
"But when you have the impact we do on others' life, getting a job is not an option.
"We could model and make fast money, but we don't want to advertise consumerism. A normal job at this point would be detrimental."
His comments added more fuel to the fire and outraged followers.
"Are you kidding?? who do you guys think you are? a couple of gods? your page is one of literally thousands that people follow. You are nothing special and your lifestyle is a ridiculous sham," an angry follower said on his post.
A post shared by CAT AND ELI (@another_beautiful_day_official) on
"At this very moment, my mother is funding us, she works two jobs and has not much herself. We didn't ask her for money but she loves that she is able to help," the post read.
"Mom, I want you to know, that it is not only us but hundreds of others that benefit from your help."
The couple's Instagram page is filled with pictures of a heavily tattooed Catalin and his girlfriend photographed in various locations around the world, including Bali, Italy, London and Paris.
So far the couple's GoFundMe campaign has raised €657 (NZ$1133) of their €10,000 (NZ$17,250) goal.
"Omg at least take the GoFundme page down! They are still taking the money and people are DONATING!" one person said on Catalin's recent video post.
