French student fined over Singapore straw licking prank
A 19-year-old French student in Singapore was fined 600 Singapore dollars for a social media prank involving licking a straw and returning it to a dispenser. The incident sparked public outrage and legal action, highlighting Singapore's strict enforcement of public order and hygiene laws.
Why it matters
The case underscores the severe legal consequences of 'viral' social media stunts in countries with strict public conduct regulations.
A social media stunt involving a single straw has left a French student facing a hefty fine — and possible consequences for his right to remain in Singapore.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Hz1Z The 19-year-old avoided prison time for the prank, which he posted on Instagram. Photo/picture alliance Advertisement A French student has been fined 600 Singapore dollars (€400, $458) after licking a drinking straw and returning it to a dispenser in a prank filmed for social media.
The 19-year-old, Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, pleaded guilty to a public nuisance charge.
He avoided a possible prison sentence, but it remains unclear whether authorities will revoke his student pass. The French national studies at Singapore's ESSEC Business School.
Maximilien removed a straw from a freshly squeezed orange juice vending machine in March, licked it and placed it back in the dispenser.
He filmed the stunt for an Instagram story, and the video later went viral.
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