A prominent Irish YouTuber has been engulfed in a firestorm of criticism after posting a video where he attempted to play the mobile game Pokémon GO at the hallowed grounds of the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial in France.
The content creator, known online as 'Tofuu', was lambasted by viewers and historians alike for the clip, which was filmed at the site where thousands of soldiers from the Newfoundland Regiment perished during the Battle of the Somme in World War I.
Outraged social media users were quick to condemn the video, labelling the act as a profound display of disrespect. Comments flooded in, with many accusing the influencer of trampling on the memory of the fallen for the sake of cheap online engagement and clicks.
One incensed viewer captured the public mood, writing, "This is utterly disgraceful. Have some respect. These men made the ultimate sacrifice and you're treating their resting place as a playground for a game." Another added, "The sheer lack of awareness and decency is staggering. This isn't content; it's a desecration."
The Beaumont-Hamel site is one of the largest preserved battlefields of the Great War and serves as a sombre place of remembrance, making the light-hearted gaming stunt appear particularly ill-conceived and offensive to many.
As of now, the YouTuber has not issued a public apology or statement addressing the widespread condemnation and calls for the video to be taken down immediately.
