Travel-blogging couple get slammed for sharing yet another ‘dangerous’ photo, man blasted for risking girlfriend’s life
An adventurous couple has drawn criticism after an Instagram post from Bali saw them hanging off an infinity pool for the perfect shot, while another "dangerous" snap saw them posing on the edge of a cliff.
American travel bloggers, 32-year-old Kody Workman, and 33-year-old Kelly Castille, who originally hail from Michigan and Louisiana, posed dangerously high above the Humantay Lagoon in Peru for their latest shot, according to a Business Insider report.
Kelly is seen in the picture precariously hanging off a cliff with one foot resting on a rock while being held by her boyfriend Kody — who is sitting on the cliff edge without any support.
Despite facing severe backlash, the couple fervently defended the August 29 image.
"The world is waiting for you! Behind the masses of those that wish to watch you lead a quiet and sedentary life is an open, unlined canvas," the caption said. "We urge you to take a chance, to push past barriers of negativity and oppression of self-fulfillment and paint the picture of who you want to be. Never let yourself be beaten down for living your life by those too afraid to live their own."
"There is a difference between risking your life and taking a risk at having one," the couple wrote. "We know which side we would rather be on, do you?"
Nonetheless, the photo sparked a fierce debate among commenters. Many called the couple's stunts "dangerous" and "stupid". One person commented, "Just stupid beyond belief that you are doing this to gain attention from people... This is the stupidity of the millennial generation."
"Do you really think encouraging others to risk their life is a good idea? You think the words you write are deep!! I think they are stupid," another wrote. "Promoting stupidity by wrapping it up in a pretty picture!" a third user commented.
Meanwhile, Kody was criticized for letting his girlfriend risk her life. "Notice how the guy isn't doing anything dangerous. He has the woman doing everything dangerous. Wow. What a real man," one commented. "Why always the girl at the risky side?" another user asked.
However, Kelly responded saying the stunt was, in fact, her idea. "Maybe because I make my own decisions and wanted to take this shot," she said.
Meanwhile, several commenters have also come to the couple's defense. "Y'all who cares if they wanna take a picture like that, let them be, they aren't children they can make their own decisions," one wrote.
"I wouldn't do it myself, but that's no reason to criticize," another added. "This is no different than skydiving, parkour, or speaking on stage. Everyone has different skillsets and risk tolerances. I'm glad you had the ability to take this photo, it's beautiful! If someone with less ability tries and dies, that's just natural selection."
The couple's latest controversial post comes just months after they shared another risky photo from the Kayon Jungle Resort in Ubud on April 3.
Kelly is seen in the photograph kissing her boyfriend Kody while hanging off the edge of a three-story swimming pool. Her legs and torso dangle freely while Kody, who is standing in the water, holds her up by the arms.
"Our greatest strength in life, our most important principle, is discernment," they wrote alongside the post. "Only you can know your body, feel the space around you and understand your capabilities. We would all do well to remember this, knowing that not every action, style or path we witness through others is or should be, replicated."
"At the end of the day, we are to hold ourselves accountable for the decisions that we make," the couple concluded. The free-spirited pair defended the image despite a barrage of negative comments, saying they were "super slow and cautious" while setting up the shot.
"It was a blast setting this up," Kelly recalled. "Kody had a very good hold of me. We trust each other entirely." She added, "It was such an amazing feeling to have this come out exactly as we planned. We are safe and sound."