'Get a job' instagram couple break silence after crowdfunding holiday backlash

A social media influencer who asked the internet for $16,000 to fund a trip for him and his girlfriend has finally spoken out after receiving serious backlash for the plea.

Catalin Onc and his girlfriend Elena Engelhardt launched a GoFundMe campaign with a target of €10,000 (NZ$17,250) so they could tandem cycle to Africa last week.

The couple, who have a combined Instagram page called Another Beautiful Day, explained they needed the money to fund their travels and keep (followers) up-to-date.

But their "ridiculous" request backfired with their furious followers demanding they "get a job".

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Can you see it coming? Was a pleasure meeting and shooting with @svlstg in Copenhagen last year

A post shared by CAT AND ELI (@another_beautiful_day_official) on Jun 16, 2019 at 12:10am PDT

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Close up of bigger painting By @mitch_griffiths_paint

A post shared by CAT AND ELI (@another_beautiful_day_official) on Jun 14, 2019 at 4:13am PDT

Following the backlash, Catalin, who hails from Wolfsburg in northern Germany, quit Instagram to do some "soul work" — but has now returned to respond to the heavy criticism.

He shared a video showing him writing on a piece paper and holding it up to the screen — it read: "Sometimes it's better to say nothing".

He then drops it from between his hands and forms a love-heart shape with his fingers.

However, he didn't appear to get the response he was hoping for, with the bizarre reappearance angering many.

"I seriously thought you were gonna say you found a job???" one person wrote.

"Your break from social media didn't last long … 6 days?," another commented.

"What happened to staying offline for 30 days?" another asked.

Since sharing the video, which has been viewed nearly 30,000 times, Catalin has continued to cop flak, especially after admitting his mother works two jobs to fund his lavish Instagram lifestyle.

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WHY AM I NOT NORMAL?? I've been asked why I don't live a 'normal' life. This I can not tell you. Maybe the fact that my family moved country when I was 11, without being able to speak the language. Maybe it's because of the back surgeries I had at a young age, or because I got a lot of attention when I played football and then looked for it elsewhere when football wasn't my life anymore. Or because I dropped out of school. Maybe it's because I love to feel alive and don't like to be held back by anyone or anything. Maybe it's because I travel and see different perspectives, or because I made countless mistakes which I learnt from. Maybe it's because I choose to take risks and try not to let fear stop me. Maybe it's because I'm not afraid of dying. It's all of these combined plus much more. We all live differently and make different choices. We are free to live and express ourselves however we want as long as we aren't harming anyone. We must learn to accept and understand each other in order to live in peace. Me and my father talked for a long time today, we laughed a lot, we said what we had to say and are moving forward. When you look like me and live the way I do it's not easy for some to understand. Normal for most, may not be normal for others. normal adjective conforming to a standard; usual, typical, or expected.

A post shared by CAT AND ELI (@another_beautiful_day_official) on Jun 6, 2019 at 5:34am PDT

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The thinker of Hamagia I've had a lot of time to think about everything these past months. Very happy that I had no Internet access for a while. conclusion is that I am living the life I once tried to imagine, thanks to less thinking and more doing. Go and live! Coming back to Europe with new energy in 3 weeks. Message us for serious modelling jobs

A post shared by CAT AND ELI (@another_beautiful_day_official) on May 23, 2019 at 10:33pm PDT

"Get a job and pay back your mother!" a follower commented on his post.

"Can I start a gofundme for your mother who's working two jobs to send you on vacay so you don't have to work?" said another

"Sometimes its better to give ur mum a break and get a job," a third person commented.

Others have said he should apologise and start a genuine, charitable fund for "people who need it more".

"You've built a platform that can actually help towards that. Commit to that 30 day 'walk' you posted about and realise that you're not so special that other hard working people should fund your lifestyle, and realise that you can actively work to start giving back," one follower explained.

The couple have raised about $1140 since asking the internet to fund their holiday. Photo / Supplied, gofundme.com

"This is pathetic, you asking for money for a trip is pathetic … get your privileged head out of your a** and grow up and wake up to the reality of the world. Disgraceful," another commented.

"No one is taking you serious anymore … I would recommend u also add, sometimes it's better to stay off social media forever."

Among the hundreds of comments slamming the influencer, some were in support of his journey.

"I don't know if you read the comments but I'm with you! Follow your heart !!! I'm sending all the love I have to you and your gf!!!"

"Stay strong. The haters here need to get their own lives," said another.

Why Catalin quit Instagram

LastMonday, the infamous influencer told his followers he would be "stepping away" from social media for a while to do some "soul work".

In the post captioned "Look within", alongside a photo of the two words tattooed under his right eye, Catalin explained he would be doing the hardest thing he'd ever done mentally and physically.

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How many people are on their phone missing the moment? Photo by @allanmenac

A post shared by CAT AND ELI (@another_beautiful_day_official) on Jun 15, 2019 at 4:37am PDT

"Here it is. I am going on a walk. I will walk as long as I possibly can. No sleep, No social media, No distractions," he said.

"Just me and my brain out there."

He said the idea was prompted by a recent trip to the Himalayan mountains.

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I have been fortunate enough to be able to walk on and around some of the biggest mountains in the world. With only 9 days of mountain experience from the previous trek around Annapurna (where we filmed a documentary) I decided to go out there on my own. With bags that weighed 30kg and the cheapest gear I could buy in Kathmandu. I was looking for an experience like never before, I wanted a challenge and the mountains delivered. Had a couple of close calls. This experience pushed me to the absolute limits. Let's just say I needed a lot of recovery time (mentally and physically). The views were sublime, absolutely breathtaking. I did the three passes in the Khumbu Subsection, Khala pathar, Everest base camp and Gokyo Ri in 10 days from Lukla to Lukla (that's half the time just so people get an idea ) also went for a quick dip in the Gokyo lake at 4700 m altitude (it's holy water, I wasn't aware). People around me were getting helicoptered out and many quit. I shed countless tears of joy, met some amazing humans and took lots of time to be grateful. Had no Internet and I loved it. Very happy to be reunited with my other half, from now on you will see us together. At times I wondered if coming back on social media was a good idea. I hope to continue to inspire and motivate. Big adventure coming soon!! Living the dream @l_y_o_n

A post shared by CAT AND ELI (@another_beautiful_day_official) on May 28, 2019 at 5:10am PDT

"I got to experience what my mind, body and soul are capable of," he said in the post, adding, "Now I'm going to take it even further."

Catalin said he was ready to face whatever was buried deep inside him. "Time to do some soul work."

However, his followers weren't as understanding or convinced of his social media detox.

"Let's be honest, you're stepping away from social media, because of all the flak you're getting for begging normal people to pay for your lifestyle," one person commented.

'Get a job'

In a previous post, Catalin said some people would just tell them 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."

His comments added more fuel to the fire and outraged followers.

"Are you kidding?? who do you guys think you are? a couple of gods? your page is one of literally thousands that people follow. You are nothing special and your lifestyle is a ridiculous sham," an angry follower said on his post.

According to one of their posts, Catalin's mum is funding their globetrotting lifestyle by working two jobs.

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This is how I feel when people make money the biggest topic. Having tattoos, a pretty girlfriend and followers on Instagram opens doors for us, it’s true. We could live a lavish lifestyle and only show that, like most people on social media do. We choose not to. We have seen how people are around us when we have money and when we don’t. #grateful that we get to see both sides of the spectrum. I wish you all could experience this. Some people are quick to judge and speak. At this very moment we don’t have much, we are accepting money from my mother and also donations but we don’t hide that. This situation is teaching us a lot. #tryingtodosomethingbigger

A post shared by CAT AND ELI (@another_beautiful_day_official) on Jun 11, 2019 at 4:24am PDT

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Shot in #copenhagen with @svlstg We will be back in Europe next week!

A post shared by CAT AND ELI (@another_beautiful_day_official) on May 31, 2019 at 3:00am PDT

"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," the post read.

"Mom, I want you to know, that it is not only us but hundreds of others that benefit from your help."

The couple's Instagram page is filled with pictures of a heavily tattooed Catalin and his girlfriend photographed in various locations around the world, including Bali, Italy, London and Paris.

So far the couple's GoFundMe campaign has raised €657 (NZ$1133) of their €10,000 (NZ$17,250) goal.

"Omg at least take the GoFundme page down! They are still taking the money and people are DONATING!" one person said on Catalin's recent video post.

Catalin and Elena were contacted for comment.