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These days some people will do anything for a slice of online clout-pie.

A British tourist looking for his few seconds of TikTok fame has made headlines this week after jumping into the pool at Elvis Presley’s Graceland estate, leading to his swift removal by security.

The incident was caught on video and has sparked both criticism and debate about the late singer’s legacy and the behaviour of tourists abroad.

The video shows a young man named Tommy Purcell disregarding a sign reading “RESTRICTED AREA: Do Not Enter”, casually hopping over the fence and proceeding to Elvis’ pool shirtless.

As Purcell hesitantly stepped onto the diving board, a female security guard clocked what was happening and rushed over to the cheeky tourist. But just before she could reach him, Purcell dove into the pool, shorts and sneakers still on.

Purcell’s wife, Nanny Murphy, recorded the stunt and shared it on TikTok, where the video has quickly garnered millions of views and prompted heated discussions.

@nannyxmurphy17 #fypシ゚viral ♬ All Shook Up – Elvis Presley

Critics took to the internet to express their anger over what they deemed “disrespectful” behaviour at the Graceland property. Despite the backlash, Murphy insisted that Purcell’s actions weren’t criminal and accused ‘haters’ of being envious. She’s also claimed that Elvis wouldn’t have minded the pool stunt.

“Elvis caught someone jumping in his pool once and never stopped them. He never got them arrested, told them to stay in the pool”.

How would you even ask The King if he was bothered? Via Ouija board?

Elvis Presley’s former home in Memphis, Tennessee, known as Graceland, was designated a National Historical Landmark in 2006. Tours of the estate are available, with ticket prices starting at just under $80 (just over R1500) and VIP tickets for $135 (a whopping R2500) or more.

It seems that Purcell and Murphy were not perturbed by the price due to their exorbitant lifestyle, as social media reveals. While Purcell maintains a low online profile, Murphy frequently posts on TikTok, where she claims to be from the UK. Her profile picture features an image of Jesus, and she often shares videos of herself wearing designer accessories and showcasing luxury items. One video clip even shows Murphy sporting three Christian Louboutin bags, each costing upwards of $1000 (R19 000), along with the caption, “Thanks to the hubby”.

Well, the strange pair do seem to be made for each other, I guess.

The recent Elvis pool incident is not an isolated one, as it follows a string of cases involving British tourists behaving poorly while abroad. Earlier this year, a gym instructor from Bristol faced backlash after being filmed carving his initials into the 2000-year-old Colosseum in Rome.

How would ya’ll like it if a tourist etched their cell number into Stonehenge? Tact and respect may need to be included as prerequisites for certain UK tourists to enter other countries from now on, as the disregard is reaching ridiculous levels.

[source:dailymail]