Social media users react to Ukrainian influencer Vadym Oleynik’s now-deleted video of him sitting on a sea turtle.
Ukrainian influencer Vadym Oleynik recently faced backlash after he shared a video of himself riding a sea turtle. In the now-deleted video, Oleynik could be seen sitting on top of the turtle as it attempts to lay eggs. In the circulated pictures, he and his partner can also be seen posing while sitting on top of the sea turtle. Reports by The Sun suggest that this took place at the Ras Al Jinz area of Oman, a sea turtle nesting site.
Upon facing major backlash, Oleynik shared an apology video on his Instagram Stories. Both of the videos no longer exist on his account. However, news of the incident spread across social media, with the internet reacting to the influencer’s actions. They wrote:
“Influencers are the scum of society, and I can’t understand how these people get any following,” said @Cyberphobe____ on X.
“Incredible levels of disrespect and stupidity,” wrote @actionxander on X.
“She spent 20 years surviving the ocean just to get used as a bench for content. The apology only showed up after the clip started circulating,” commented @Tushclips on X.
“Why do people think animals are toys?” said X user @earnlabcom.
The Environment Authority in Oman released a statement saying it had taken necessary legal action against the influencer. According to the authority, Oleynik allegedly violated the country’s wildlife protection laws and regulations.
What Did Vadym Oleynik Say in His Apology?
In his apology, Oleynik apologized to the Environmental Authority of Oman. He claimed that he did not see the rules and was unaware of them. Acknowledging that he had made a mistake, the Ukrainian influencer said this on his Instagram:
“I would like to send, first of all, my apologies to the Environmental Authority Sultanate of Oman. Also for the protection agency of the green sea turtles that I was sitting on. Because I was misled by someone and I didn’t see the rules. So, I did a mistake, and sending [my apologies] to everyone. I didn’t want to hurt the turtle or do anything bad to it, and may god bless all of you and forgive me for my mistake. Thank you, sending you a big hug.”
Also read: “Bro Makes 1 Mil a Month and Only Donated $100,000”: Internet Reacts As Twitch Star Donated $100K to Maya Higa’s Nonprofit Animal Sanctuary
I’m Abhishek Sharma, an author at TigerJek.com. I enjoy exploring games, testing different strategies, and turning what I learn into clear, useful guides. My goal is to help players understand the game better and improve without the usual confusion.
