A TikTok star from East Lancashire has deleted one of his videos after receiving backlash on social media.

The Darwen influencer, who goes by the name of ‘Max Balegde’, recently posted a video of a couple who got engaged on a tube in the London underground.

The video drew heavy criticism online, with social media users accusing Max of “mocking” the pair after he called the engagement a “violation”.

In the now deleted video, filmed following the LGBTQ+ Pride parade in London, he called the proposal a “violation” adding that he would “be fuming if that were [him]”.

The video was captioned: “If someone proposes to me on the tube they’ll be getting a swift rejection.”

The video, which was filmed during the 50th anniversary of London Pride, has since received a lot of backlash on social media.

Most people criticising Max seemed to be angered that he was picking out an LGBTQ+ couple to mock; but some responded defending the Darwen star to say he was commenting on the setting of the proposal - on a busy Tube train - rather than the sexuality of the people involved.

Conor Collins, who claims to be the cousin of one of the people featured in the video, posted a Twitter thread about the video.

 

 

He said: “I’m 99 per cent [sure] you are mocking my only recently out cousin proposing to their lovely partner during the 50th anniversary of London Pride.

“You took what was a lovely moment for them both and instead of just being happy for them, you took it for yourself.

“I noticed you haven’t apologised for this which would be the tiniest gesture of making things right.”

Another social media user said: “Max's reaction is disgusting to say the least, why feel the need to degrade two people's special moment?”

Another said: “That Max Balegde TikTok has really got to me.

“Imagine being at Pride, seeing a couple propose and mocking their moment for a few views on TikTok.”

However, some people are defending Max.

One person said: “People cancelling Max Balegde for 'mocking' a couple getting engaged on a TRAIN.

“It's so weird people are calling him homophobic because of it.”

“The downfall of Max Balegde is rather confusing as some of the people who are criticising exude the exact same energy they’re accusing him of,” said another.

“Filming it and posting it to millions of followers is not on of Max Balegde,” said another, “But let’s not get too ‘holier-than-thou’ and pretend a tube proposal isn’t funny.”

The couple in the video were approached for comment but declined.

Max’s management has been approached for comment.