'I didn't actually do it': TikToker slammed for eating Hungry Ghost offerings clarifies
The 22-year-old has received abusive DMs.
A TikToker who uploaded a clip of himself apparently eating Hungry Ghost Festival offerings left by the roadside has clarified that he did not actually do so, after he drew online flak for his "disrespectful" actions.
The 22-year-old, identifying himself as Antonius, says he was actually eating a slice of pandan cake that he had purchased.
In the 15-second video, uploaded on Aug 24, Antonius is seen standing next to a table of offerings with the on-screen caption: "When you're broke and hungry but you realised seventh month just started so you genuinely just start grabbing food off the floor."
The video shows him reaching for an orange steamed rice cake on the ground, before he is seen chewing something green and showing it to the camera.
The post quickly went viral, gaining over 274,800 views and 22,800 likes. Many netizens expressed shock and outrage, calling his actions "disrespectful", while others thought it was "fake".
'I didn't actually do it': Youth clarifies his actions
In response to queries from Shin Min Daily News, Antonius explained that he was eating a slice of pandan cake, which is different in color from the orange rice cake that he reached for in the video.
The idea for the video came to him when he was hungry and had a mischievous thought about eating the offerings. "Of course, it was just a thought. I didn't actually do it, but it gave me the idea for the video," he said.
Some netizens have sent him abusive private messages, said Antonius, and remained hostile despite his efforts to keep things cordial.
No intention to offend
Antonius insisted that he had no intention of disrespecting any religion and simply wanted to make people laugh.
In an Instagram story posted on Sept 3, he explained: "I understand how the video 'being a joke' doesn't mean it cannot be offensive, so I tried my best to be sensitive and make it as inoffensive as possible."
"I would never take religion lightly and I don't condone behaviours like actually disrespecting the practice," he added.
Antonius added that this is not his first time making such content.
On Aug 21 2024, he posted a similar video on TikTok that amassed over 83,000 views and 100 comments.
The video shows a table of offerings with the subtitle: "When bro claims he grew up poor but he never had to steal seventh month offerings from the ghosts."
The scene then cuts to him pouring a bag of yellow snacks into his mouth.
Antonius told Shin Min that he believes eating or messing with offerings is a shameful act and stressed that he did not make the video for fame, but purely for fun.
The New Paper has reached out to Antonius for comment.