Story By: Ana Marjanovic, Sub-Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency: Newsflash
A male TikTok star who faked a pregnancy and then posed with a baby is facing fury from outraged fans.
Turkish social media star Mukremin Gezgin, 24, had posted footage of himself in various stages of his phantom pregnancy over the course of nine months.
Then he uploaded a clip showing him apparently about to give birth and faking contractions in a hospital examination room on 7th June.
His next TikTok clip shows him wearing striped satin pyjamas in a petal-strewn bed cuddling a baby.
The infant – said to be called Umut, or ‘Hope’ – seems real but it is far too large to be a newborn.
It is not known for certain whether Gezgin is male or trans.
But his dark stubbled chin, burly physique and chubby tattooed arms certainly do not make him look like a typical young mum.
Now Gezgin is facing an angry social media backlash after his TikTok account was suspended severing his 1.3 million followers and 37 million ‘likes’.
All his other social media accounts were also suspended at the same time.
Gezgin – reportedly from the Turkish capital Ankara – drew heavy criticism over the baby stunt.
Turkish media report he might even have been arrested after Istanbul’s Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation following many complaints.
Local actress Berguzar Korel – a mum of three – said: “I saw this post last night, and the first thing I thought of was this baby.”
She added: “Shame on the people who laughed at this and shared it on their page. You are all crazy about likes and followers. We’ve had enough of you!”
But singer Edis Gorgulu tried to stand up for the stunt.
He said: “I don’t understand how you are judging this young man. It’s a show! Also, aren’t queers parenting too?
“What exactly are you angry about? You have to confront yourself about homophobia and class discrimination.
“And why do you take everything so seriously? This is just some silly joke.”
An unnamed hospital featured in Gezgin’s footage is also said to be facing an investigation.
Some Turkish reports state that Gezgin is transgender, but the shamed social media star has reportedly never discussed the subject online.
Other Turkish media have claimed that Gezgin rented a baby to perform a staged birth, claiming that there was no father.
After reportedly announcing that the child would grow up without a dad, Gezgin is said to have received millions of supportive messages.
