USA
Influencer hits a golf ball in the Grand Canyon – and could even end up in prison for it
The Grand Canyon in Arizona is one of the great natural wonders of the world
© robertharding / Imago Images
An influencer throws a golf ball into the vastness of the Grand Canyon – this is not only pollution, but also poses a danger to people and animals. The TikTok user is now facing legal consequences.
The Grand Canyon, the 450-kilometer-long gorge in the US state of Arizona, is an impressive natural phenomenon that attracts millions of tourists every year. It is not for nothing that it is one of the great natural wonders of the world. The impressive backdrop is amazing, but is also good for selfies and videos – that’s probably what the Tik-Tok influencer and golfer Katie Sigmond thought.
The American was filmed hitting a golf ball in the Grand Canyon and published the video on her TikTok profile. There, the 20-year-old is followed by almost seven million people. Most of them are very impressed with their content, but Sigmond has drawn some users’ displeasure with their golf video – and now even has to fear serious legal consequences.
Grand Canyon: Influencer endangers hikers and animals
The influencer has since deleted the video from her account, but users have published copies on Reddit. There you can see that Sigmond not only throws the golf ball into the canyon, but also loses part of her golf club in the shot, which also ends up in the canyon. Many of their followers had no understanding for such behavior in a place that deserves special protection – not only because of its beauty, but also because it is a habitat for flora and fauna.
The National Park Service was also stunned. “Do we really have to say, ‘Don’t hit golf balls in the Grand Canyon?'” the agency wrote on Facebook, without naming the TikToker. The attached screenshot was clear though. A complaint was filed against Sigmond. Throwing objects off the rim of the gorge is not illegal, the National Park Service said, but can also injure hikers and animals.
Up to six months in prison
“We take such incidents very seriously,” a spokeswoman for the national park told the Washington Post. Sigmond is now awaiting trial and, in the worst case, could even end up behind bars: the maximum sentence for her offenses is six months in prison. The TikToker herself has not yet commented on this, in her current videos she does not address the allegations.
Sources: Reddit / Katie Sigmond on TikTok / Grand Canyon National Park Service on Facebook
Watch the video: Emily Koford and her mother Erin probably didn’t expect this experience. When the young woman wants to take a picture of her mother at the Grand Canyon, she suddenly steps into space when walking back. A hiker films the terrifying scene.