Guaynaa and Lele Pons are a celebrity couple with ties to the rap, music, and film industries. Pons first gained popularity posting music and comedy videos on the popular app Vine, and thus they both have massive followings on social media platforms like TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram -- the last of which they took to recently to showcase their latest trick: animal cruelty.
The pair were in Pons' home state of Florida when the abuse took place. They were filming themselves, as so many social media influencers do, luxuriating in their own personal pool -- but their swim session was a little different. Joining them in the chemical-filled, chlorinated water was a baby alligator. Not only was the tiny thing completely out of place in a Florida swimming pool, it's mouth was also wrapped tight with tape, making it impossible for the baby gator to move freely. Pons laughs, smiles, sticks her tongue out, and kisses her boyfriend as the helpless animal floats there, just waiting to be freed.
Sign the petition demanding that TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter deplatform Lele Pons and Guaynaa for posting and promoting animal cruelty!
The bitter irony of it all is that the alligator was a rescue. At least, that's what rapper Guaynaa claimed in his 'apology' -- a weak statement that focused on clearing his own name, begging people to believe he and Pons are not abusers while offering no real explanation as to why he subjected the tiny alligator to such discomfort. That's most likely because they did it for views and clout, the root of most online stunts of this nature.
Instead, his apology -- accompanied by silence from Pons -- went on to say all manner of ridiculous things, from claiming they are "pet lover[s]" to saying that they taped the baby alligator's mouth shut to protect their dogs who were nearby. Had they not considered protecting their dogs and the baby alligator by not forcing them to be in the same environment in the first place?
Although the video was only shared on Pons' Instagram, and has since been deleted, her audience spans all of social media. Someone who follows her or Guaynaa on Instagram most likely follows them on Twitter and TikTok as well -- and all three of these platforms have community guidelines that, in one way or another, that forbid depictions of animal cruelty or abuse.
It's unclear whether or not Pons and Guaynaa purchased this alligator, but it should be noted -- it's illegal to do so in the state of Florida.
Together, the pair have almost 75 million followers across Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. Other than their most recent animal cruelty, these followers have also been subjected to Guaynaa and Pons completely diregarding social distancing and other health guidelines that health experts have pleaded with people to follow during this deadly pandemic that has so far killed 2 million people worldwide -- the pair have posted themsleves eating at restaurants and hanging out with large groups of friends like nothing has changed.
Obviously, these two do not deserve the influence these apps are providing them. Sign the petition and ask Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter to take a stand against animal cruelty and deplatform Guaynaa and Lele Pons!
