Is the viral 'Maui Wowie' TikTok trend to blame for damaged traffic lights?
Images of two traffic lights slanting dangerously to one side have been circulating.
Singapore's latest TikTok craze, the 'Maui Wowie' challenge, may have literally left its mark here, with images of two damaged traffic lights circulating online.
The trend was started by TikToker @aaronxbrown, who posted a video of himself hanging on to a traffic light while lip-syncing to American rapper Kid Cudi's 2008 track Maui Wowie.
On Oct 14, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) warned against hanging on to traffic lights, street signs, and other road infrastructure after the trend began gaining traction locally.
An eight-second video edit of a slanted traffic light surfaced online on Oct 15, with commenters blaming the trend for causing it. The poster said the traffic light is located in Hougang West.
In the video, posted by @user648364848, the TikToker questioned, "Which one of y'all tried hanging off this?"
The clip had 113,100 views, 19,600 reactions, and 106 comments at press time.
'You sure not some tank ram into it?': Netizen
While most netizens started blaming their friends who had participated in the trend, others were amused by the state of the slanted traffic light.
One user shared a photo of another severely slanted and damaged traffic light, surrounded by debris, while others called on the LTA to "check the CCTVs and fine him S$20K" for vandalising public property.
"LTA warned us about this," one user commented.
Some commenters joked that the incident was "good testing for the traffic lights". adding that there was no way a human could actually dislodge one from its mounting.
"So weak the traffic light can't handle human weight," said one in jest.