Influencer couple face deportation over Bali face mask prank

An influencer couple are facing deportation from Bali after pulling a face mask prank in a supermarket.

The American-based YouTuber Josh Parler Lin and his girlfriend Russian influencer Leia Se have copped backlash and even had their passports seized after a video of Se entering a supermarket with a face mask painted to her face went viral.

In the video, Lin and Se can be seen trying to enter a supermarket before being turned away by security because Se was not wearing a mask.

The two return to their car where Lin uses makeup to paint a blue surgical mask onto Se’s face instead of finding her a real mask.

“Wow, look at this! It looks so real!” Se said in the video while admiring Lin’s paint job.

“You just can’t open your mouth and can’t smile,” Lin said.

The two then breeze past security, trying not to laugh as they walk through the supermarket.

“Did you notice no one’s looking at you?” Lin said.

” No one noticed! Even the security. I can’t believe this works.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=293jIfUzCxI

The two have both deleted the video from their social media accounts, but not quickly enough to stop the stunt from going viral, provoking calls to deport them.

A spokesperson from the Balinese Ministry of Law and Human Rights told Coconuts Bali Lin and Se had their passports seized by local authorities and were being questioned.

Local police boss Dewa Nyoman Rai Dharmadi told The New Zealand Herald that he would submit a recommendation to deport Lin and Se as well as issue them fines.

“They are not only violating, but deliberately provoking in public, so it’s only proper to sanction them more severely, not just with a fine but also deportation,” Dewa said.

Last week, Lin issued a statement via his Instagram apologising for the video.

“The intention to make this video was not at all to disrespect or invite anyone to not wear a mask,” he said.

“I made this video to entertain people because I am a content creator and it is my job to entertain people … we promise not to do it again.

“I would like to invite everyone in Indonesia and Bali to wear a mask for your own safety and health.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Josh Paler Lin (@joshpalerlin)

It is currently mandatory to wear a face covering in Bali’s public spaces, with tourists copping fines of around $10 and in some cases are even being made to do push-ups.

Featured image source: YouTube

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Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

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