The couple have described work as “detrimental” to their lives.
A social media influencer whose mother funds his lavish lifestyle has appealed to his followers for €10,000 so he and his girlfriend can travel overseas.
Catalin Onc and Elena Engelhardt launched a GoFundMe campaign with the huge target so they can tandem cycle to Africa.
The German couple from Hessen, who have a combined Instagram page called Another Beautiful Day, told their 40,000 followers in a post getting a job would be “detrimental”, and there weren’t many jobs for which they were qualified.
But their “ridiculous” request has backfired with their followers being left completely furious.
“It has now come to the point again where we must ask for money in order to continue doing what we do,” Catalin’s post began.
“Some will just tell us 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.”
“We hope you all enjoy and learn with us.”
The GoFundMe describes the couple as “lovers, travellers, dream chasers”.
“We need funds now for preparation as well as throughout our trip,” the page reads.
“Every dollar, every message, every couch or garden for our tent, any help you can offer will help us go further.
“We hope you all enjoy and learn with us.”
Astoundingly, Catalin’s mum is funding the couple's lavish lifestyle by working two jobs.
“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,” an Instagram post reads.
“Mom, I want you to know, that it is not only us but hundreds of others that benefit from your help.”
The post then said during a recent trip to the Himalayas they decided it would be “selfish” not to stay on social media.
“After recently spending time trekking in the Himalayan mountains, learning about myself and seeing how others live, not returning to social media would have been selfish.”
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Can you see it coming? Was a pleasure meeting and shooting with @svlstg in Copenhagen last year
Backlash.
As is very understandable, there has been a lot of backlash toward the couple on the internet...
“Your mom works two jobs to pay for your trip, don’t you think that’s impacting her mental heath?” asked one follower on a post they shared about their GoFundMe page.
“It’s sad this isn’t all a joke, the self importance you have is ridiculous.”
Another person pointed out how the couple said they didn’t want to model to raise money because it promoted“consumerism”, but “modelling” was still in their bio.
“Honestly asking for money (when you have opportunities to earn it yourselves) to continue to provide content to your followers is still consumerism. I just don’t get it. If I’m just not understanding when the ‘mental health/climate change’ support comes into play by tandem biking, then I’d love to understand,” the follower asked.
“I like you both a lot and been following your posts for a while now but I just don’t really get how this helps people with mental health issues like myself? This just seems like an adventure and a fun trip for you both and it has no significant reason to help anyone else in anyway,” said one follower.
Another follower said they too loved the couple but also “do not understand”.
“I am depressed. I never go out of my house … being able to travel will literally save my life and that’s the truth, but I will not dare to ask people to pay for my trips. And yet it will save my life.”
Another commented: “I’m beginning to think your ‘message’ isn’t very genuine anymore. It used to be, but the entire vibe has changed slowly.”
At the time of writing, the GoFundMe page had raised just €200 of the €10,000 goal.
