A Karaoke boss has told the National Trust to ‘lighten up’ after his firm was slammed for shooting a TikTok video on ‘fragile’ Cerne Abbas Giant.
Vocal Star Karaoke, a manufacturer and supplier of the singing machines, recorded the stunt on the Cerne Abbas Giant in Dorset.
The short clip features a young woman singing ABBA’s Gimme Gimme Gimme! on the Giant’s 30ft long penis to promote the company’s ‘huge’ Black Friday deals.
The TikTok video has had 50,000 views since it was posted two days ago.
The 180ft chalk figure is owned by the National Trust and is protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument and as part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
A Karaoke boss has told the National Trust to ‘lighten up’ after his firm was slammed for shooting a TikTok video on ‘fragile’ Cerne Abbas Giant (pictured)
Vocal Star Karaoke, a manufacturer and supplier of the singing machines, recorded the stunt on the Cerne Abbas Giant in Dorset
The short clip features a young woman singing ABBA ‘s Gimme Gimme Gimme! on the Giant’s 30ft long penis to promote the company’s ‘huge’ Black Friday deals
The Trust has slammed the video stunt on the delicate landmark and said they were not approached for permission.
A National Trust spokesperson said: ‘It’s an important chalk grassland for its wildflowers and the butterflies and wildlife that it supports, and is easily damaged.
‘As a scheduled ancient monument, the giant has the highest archaeological protection and any damage caused would be an offence.
‘We are very concerned about this stunt, or any publicity stunt, that may in future encourage any damage, or potential damage, to this fragile site.’
Yet Jay Taylor, director of Vocal Star Karaoke, said the National Trust should ‘lighten up’ following backlash over his company’s Tiktok video on the Cerne Abass Giant.
Mr Taylor said: ‘Our aim with these videos is to bring a bit of fun and humour to people’s day, but also highlight the stunning Dorset locations local to us.
‘We arrived at Cerne Abbas… the giant was barely visible, as it had become overgrown.
‘We were approached by a man whilst filming, asking what we were doing and when we explained, he said he was one of a ground keeping team and we’d be fine heading up to film on location, as the ground was very dry, firm and overgrown.
‘We had to wait a long while to film, as there were lots on people on there on the day.
‘Our timing to release this video now, as part of our Black Friday promotions, was in part to celebrate the Cerne Abbas Giant following recent controversy in the news claiming it is a symbol of toxic masculinity.
The 180ft chalk figure is owned by the National Trust and is protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument and as part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest
Archaeologists believe the chalk figure was drawn into the hillside at Cerne Abbas in the late Saxon period. Its original purpose is unclear but traditionally it has been used as a fertility symbol
The giant was re-chalked in 2019 (pictured) to commemorate the trust’s 100-year ownership of the landmark
‘If there is anyone saying this fun video is bringing the landmark into disrepute, then honestly we would ask them to lighten up!
‘It was all done for a bit of fun, it was tongue in cheek and we were advised on the day that we were allowed to do it.’
He added: ‘We genuinely understood from the gentlemen we spoke with on the day that we had permission, given he was one of the ground keepers.
‘He was genuinely apologetic about the current state and condition of the landmark and seemed happy to help and advise us.
‘If for one moment we thought that we were not permitted, we of course wouldn’t have done the filming.
‘It was all done for a bit of fun; it was tongue in cheek, and we were advised on the day that we were allowed to do it.
‘You can see from the video that this was filmed in summer, and we were totally respectful at all times of the landmark and area.
‘We are proud to be Dorset-based and proud to feature Dorset landmarks in our videos.’
Archaeologists believe the chalk figure was drawn into the hillside at Cerne Abbas in the late Saxon period.
Its original purpose is unclear but traditionally it has been used as a fertility symbol.
The giant was re-chalked in 2019 to commemorate the trust’s 100-year ownership of the landmark.
In October, a flock of sheep was let loose on the giat after it had almost disappeared under overgrown grass due to abnormally wet weather throughout July and August.