Singapore fines French teen $465 for viral straw-licking stunt
A 19-year-old French student in Singapore was fined $465 after posting a viral video of himself licking a straw from a public vending machine. The company replaced all 500 straws in the machine following the incident, which the student later expressed regret for.
Why it matters
The case highlights Singapore's strict public nuisance laws and the legal consequences of viral social media stunts that compromise public hygiene.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien is 'truly sorry' for causing trouble, his lawyer says
A Singapore court has fined a French student S$600 ($465; £348) for licking a straw from an orange juice vending machine and putting it back into its dispenser.
Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, 19, pleaded guilty to one count of public nuisance.
Maximilien, who is studying in Singapore, posted the video of himself licking the straw on Instagram with the caption "city is not safe".
Many online reacted with disgust to his video, which was reposted on a community page and picked up by local news outlets.
The company that owns the vending machine, iJooz, said it replaced all 500 straws in the machine dispenser after Maximilien's stunt.
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