A husband and wife Instagram influencer team has come under fire after asking followers to fund their €10,000 ($11,215) trip to Africa.

20-somethings Catalin Onc and Elena Engelhardt, who run the Instagram account called Another Beautiful Day Official and who describe themselves as “lovers, travelers, dream chasers” recently announced their plans for a tandem cycling trip from from Germany to Africa. Then they also asked their 34.8k Instagram followers to pay for it—in the name of mental health.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by CAT AND ELENA (@another_beautiful_day_official) on May 2, 2019 at 5:36am PDT

According to multiple Instagram posts, the couple lives with Onc’s mother, who works two jobs to support them. Despite this, they started a GoFundMe page and explained that getting ‘regular’ jobs was simply not an option.

They said: “Some will just tell us to get jobs, like everyone else and stop begging. But when you have the impact we do on others’ life, getting a job is not an option. We could model and make fast money, but we don’t want to advertise consumerism. A normal job at this point would be detrimental.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by CAT AND ELENA (@another_beautiful_day_official) on Mar 23, 2019 at 2:53am PDT



Onc and Engelhardt detailed their plan on the GoFundMe page: “We want to take you all on this huge adventure. A celebration of life, as we ride freely across mountains, by the sea and through metropolitans. We will show the beauty of this planet and its inhabitants, but also the ugliness [sic].”

“But we can not do this on our own. We need you!”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by CAT AND ELENA (@another_beautiful_day_official) on Jun 9, 2019 at 3:54am PDT

The pair explained that they need cash both for “preparation” and “throughout” the trip, noting that the funds would go towards”the bike and gear, food and accommodation (when needed), internet, and SIM cards in every country to keep you up to date, insurance, emergencies.”

“Every dollar, every message, every couch or garden for our tent, any help you can offer will help us go further,” they added.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by CAT AND ELENA (@another_beautiful_day_official) on Mar 5, 2019 at 3:29am PST

While at the time of writing nine people had donated to the couple’s cause, upping their total to €215 towards their €10,000 goal, most people were beyond outraged with the couple’s unrealistic plea.

Mostly because it feels as though the pair is exploiting mental health as a means of snagging a free vacation and ego-boosting with social media selfies.

Onc and Engelhardt responded to the vitriol, somewhat, by posting a series of Instagram photos with a caption leading with: “This is how I feel when people make money the biggest topic.”

“Having tattoos, a pretty girlfriend and followers on Instagram opens doors for us, it’s true,” wrote the pair. “We could live a lavish lifestyle and only show that, like most people on social media do. We choose not to.”

“We have seen how people are around us when we have money and when we don’t. #grateful that we get to see both sides of the spectrum. I wish you all could experience this.”

“Some people are quick to judge and speak. At this very moment we don’t have much, we are accepting money from my mother and also donations but we don’t hide that. This situation is teaching us a lot.”