07 April 2023 , 07:31
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A TikTokker was forced to apologise after she filmed a video showing her appearing to steal a historic cobblestone from outside Canterbury Cathedral.
The American tourist - who goes by the name Arorio Art - claims that after she filmed the vid she put the rock back.
But it was later stolen - and she has since appealed for the perpetrator to return it.
The initial video posted last month shows the social media star removing a loose cobblestone from outside the 1,400-year-old cathedral in Canterbury, Kent - where martyr Thomas Becket was murdered in 1170.
The shot then pans away from the stone to the cathedral's famous Christchurch gate, with crowds milling around nearby.
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The video shows a loose cobblestone (ario-art/TikTok)
The influencer then pulls it out (ario-art/TikTok)It received 4.3 million views and was captioned: "Souvenir acquired."
But the user later posted another video where she said she had been contacted by a local who found the stone was stolen after her joke video.
And she begged whoever had taken it to do the right thing and put it back.
She said: "Hey everyone I just want to have a quick talk.
The caption says: "Souvenir acquired" (ario-art/TikTok)
She says she then put it back (ario-art/TikTok)"I did not pick up that rock. I put that rock back. I picked it up for the purpose of the video; I thought it would be a little bit funny and then I put it back, which I shouldn't have done and I'm sorry for that.
"Some random person went and found my phone number from my Instagram and sent me a picture of the rock that's missing.
"That was not me. I don't know why the rock is gone, but if you have it, please put it back.
"I did not expect that video to get nearly as much attention as it did.
"I definitely didn't think it would put the idea into other people's heads to take the rock.
The video shows tourists milling around outside the cathedral (ario-art/TikTok)
The cobblestones are not protected or listed (ario-art/TikTok)"Even putting aside that these cobblestones are really really old and have a lot of history behind them....someone's going to have to fill in the hole.
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"They are going to have to take time out of their day to go fill in the hole, so please if you have the cobblestone, put it back."
Posters on her original video actually praised her for taking the artifact.
The stones are not understood to be listed, or historic.
One said: "Thought this was a really cool geocache for a second."
Arorio later apologised (ario-art/TikTok)
She said despite the stone going missing she didn't take it (ario-art/TikTok)Another said: "As an Egyptian i think i am owed some 'souvenirs'."
"British cobbles are the ultimate souvenir," one said, while another added: "Put it in a museum in another country and say you're keeping it safe."
One said: "Bro I'm gonna go there and take that rock," while another retorted: "Bro thinks he's the British Museum."
One tagged a pal and said: "We are checking if the stone is there later."
Another said back: "I was there and it's missing."
Canterbury Cathedral is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England (Getty Images)But others said the video wasn't so cool.
"Your friend: put it back," one said, while another responded: "Theres no way you just stole a cobblestone."
Another said: "Not stealing from Canterbury."
And one said: "Y'all please do not take home random bricks from Britain!" to which the original poster replied: "I put it back after i filmed the video, I just thought it was funny."
A Kent County Council spokesperson said: "Causing damage to the highway is an offence, with a maximum penalty of £1,000, and costs KCC money to rectify.
"We would urge people not to damage roads or pavements in this way."