An influencer was arrested after destroying a ‘toilet paper’ Christmas tree.
Like many local residents, TikTok star Jordy Rioja was outraged by the festive installation.
The Christmas tree appeared to be made of a simple metal frame with material wrapped around it alongside a few haphazardly placed lights.
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Locals were stunned when they learned it cost the council £4,445 (PEN 20,000) to install.
Residents called the festive monument a “mockery” and a “disgrace”.
One fuming local said it “looked like toilet paper wrapped around a tube”.
“The trees from previous years were much better,” bemoaned another.
A group of photographers with over 40 years’ experience working on the plaza said the demand for sales has dropped drastically after the installation.
One explained: “People just don’t want to have their picture taken with it.”
Jordy filmed himself reacting angrily to the tree’s presence on the main square in Chiclayo, Peru.
During a livestream for his 1.2m TikTok fans, the content creator allegedly damaged the structure in front of a crowd of cheering onlookers.
He appeared to encourage other locals to do the same.
The viral video drew the ire of city mayor Janet Cubas Carranza.
She claimed the structure had not yet been completed and filed a complaint against Jordy for allegedly damaging it.
The mayor said: “I stand by my previous statement that it looks beautiful.
“We’re going to finish it, we haven’t finished decorating the tree or the park yet.
“How could I not stand by my statement when we’re making an effort to make it look better than previous years?
“We haven’t finished yet, we haven’t had a traditional ceremony, as we usually do, to turn on the lights.”
She also criticised Jordy for allegedly damaging the tree, as reported by Need To Know.
She said: “What are they trying to achieve?
“To trigger another larger act of vandalism?
“We have to stop this, this cannot be repeated, and it will not be repeated in Chiclayo.”
Jordy was arrested moments after vandalising the tree on Tuesday evening (9 Dec).
Last night, he posted two videos apologising for his actions.
In one clip, he even appeared to be crying out of remorse.
He praised the efforts of the mayor’s office and asked for “public forgiveness”.
He told his influencers that he was informed by the authorities that the structure is a “Balenciaga tree”.
The influencer added: “I didn’t know it’s the most expensive tree in all of Peru.”
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