The builder behind a viral TikTok video falsely claiming a lady’s driveway was ripped up over an unpaid invoice says he has now misplaced his job – and admits he solely has himself accountable.
Alex Grey advised MailOnline he had ‘greater than realized his lesson’ after sparking outrage with a stunt that was seen virtually a million instances.
The now-deleted clip confirmed employees from Kendall Contractors Ltd showing to tear up a tarmac drive in Leeds, West Yorkshire, with the caption: ‘Cannot pay? We’ll take it away.’
However the girl who owns the house – and who had paid her £3,800 invoice in full final yr – was left devastated by the video, which falsely painted her as a bill-dodger.
Mr Grey, who posted the clip on TikTok, revealed he had walked away from the Leeds-based groundworks agency and accepted ‘full duty’.
He stated he had provided his resignation to boss Tony Kendall, whose daughter Sophie Kendall is listed as the corporate’s the only director.
Mr Grey stated: ‘I’ve greater than realized my lesson – I’ve misplaced my job due to it.
‘We have parted methods. I simply stated I am sorry and I’ve walked away.
‘I did not need to convey the difficulty to his household as a result of it is acquired nothing to do with them, so I assumed I would stroll away.
‘That was the very best factor to do.’
Alex Grey (pictured together with his girlfriend), who posted the clip on TikTok , revealed he had walked away from the Leeds-based groundworks agency and accepted ‘full duty’
The footage appeared to indicate a person with a chainsaw tearing into the newly-completed tarmac
A person driving a digger is then seen destroying components of the harmless girl’s driveway
The footage falsely implied that the driveway was being destroyed in revenge over non-payment of a £3,800 invoice.
However the girl, in her 60s, paid the unique value in full final yr and had been ready for the floor to be repaired after a burst water major and gasoline pipe problem led to the brand new driveway being dug up.
She stated the £1,600 compensation from the gasoline board had been sitting in her checking account, and Kendall Contractors had solely simply returned to finish the remediation work.
It’s that resurfacing work which Mr Grey posted on-line as a ‘revenge stunt’ in an obvious bid to realize viral clicks.
The footage seems to indicate a person with a chainsaw tearing into the newly-completed tarmac, set to music. A digger is then seen destroying components of the driveway.
Mr Grey stated he had personally been to the home-owner’s property in north Leeds to apologise with flowers.
He stated he may ‘completely’ perceive her anger and admitted he had ‘100%’ realised the stunt was a ‘daft factor to do’.
‘I went to her home at 9am this morning, simply to apologise. However I am executed there now. That is why I am at house.
Mr Grey (pictured) stated: ‘I’ve greater than realized my lesson – I’ve misplaced my job due to it. ‘We have parted methods. I simply stated I am sorry and I’ve walked away’
‘Like I say, it is a lesson learnt, is not it? You do not realise how highly effective social media is and that is an absence of intelligence alone behalf.
‘So I’ve acquired to take it on the chin.’
The church-going home-owner had no thought the video existed till being approached by MailOnline.
She stated: ‘They’ve posted a video on TikTok suggesting that I am somebody who dodges their payments, so that they’ve ripped up my driveway. The reality of it’s, they’ve simply executed it for amusing.
‘We have all watched TV programmes about this sort of factor. However that’s not me.
‘That’s not the state of affairs in any way. The very fact is, sure, they had been taking on the drive, however they had been taking on the drive as a result of it wanted repairing.’
She added: ‘They’ve put me in an terrible place. Folks on-line suppose I am somebody who does not pay their payments.’
The video has since been deleted, and Kendall Contractors posted a follow-up clip admitting the data was incorrect.
Mr Grey (pictured) stated he had personally been to the home-owner’s property in north Leeds to apologise with flowers
The corporate stated: ‘We want to clear a couple of issues from our newest TikTok that has now been eliminated on account of it circulating virally.’
This driveway was accomplished final yr, the client did pay in full. The explanation the driveway was taken up because of the gasoline board finishing works on the property and having to dig up part of the driveway.
‘We had been then requested by the client to return and rectify what the gasoline board had executed to the brand new driveway. I’ve apologised to this buyer personally because it has gained some undesirable consideration.’
When initially approached by MailOnline, Mr Grey described the video as ‘faux’.
It learn: ‘We was relaying it [the driveway] for gasoline males.’
#Tiktok #driveway #stunt #backfired #horribly #Ive #misplaced #job #realized #lesson #admits #repentant #builder #viral #video