TikToker apologizes for faking dog’s kidnapping to “create entertainment”

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A well-known TikTok creator in France confessed to falsely claiming his dog had been kidnapped. He said he did it to generate more views and engagement on social media, as his income from the platform was decreasing.

On February 9th, Cyril Schreiner admitted that the story of his pug, Albert, going missing was a hoax. He had previously shared what looked like security camera footage on French social media, appearing to show two people stealing the dog from a house he’d rented, and the story had quickly gone viral.

Even before the fake kidnapping, there was a growing worry about stolen pets online. In the weeks leading up to the incident, videos of Amazon delivery drivers allegedly stealing cats had become very popular on social media.

However, in this case, it was all a ruse orchestrated by the TikToker with 8.5M followers.

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A post shared by Cyril Schreiner (@cyrilschr)

TikToker admits he faked dognapping because he wasn’t getting paid enough

On February 5th, Schreiner posted a heartfelt video on Instagram that seemed to show a tearful reunion with Albert. However, he later confessed the whole thing was a hoax.

In a recent video, he admitted the past year was challenging, explaining he’d lost passion for the content he was creating.

I wasn’t enjoying things as much anymore. I missed feeling excited about storytelling, like I did back in 2016.

Schreiner said the initial kidnapping video was clearly a joke and stated his dog wasn’t part of the filming process. He explained that he used a bag of potatoes to stand in for his dog, Albert, while making the video.

“I wanted to create entertainment,” he said, before acknowledging he crossed a line.

Some topics are too serious for jokes, and I made a mistake by trying to be funny about one. I sincerely apologize, and I want everyone to know I didn’t intend to offend anyone who has experienced the loss of a pet.

French TikToker faces financial fallout over fake dognapping

The negative reaction wasn’t just a hit to his reputation; Schreiner claims it actually caused him to lose sponsorships and professional trust. He insists he didn’t plan the incident to gain attention or followers.

He explained that this experience resulted in lost business relationships, damaged his reputation, and significant financial losses. He emphasized that the effort put into it didn’t generate much income, noting that social media isn’t as profitable as it once was.

So, apparently, the guy who did that whole thing, Schreiner, said he’s donating any money he made from it to animal charities. Good to hear, honestly.

Schreiner is not the first creator to face consequences over staged content.

I still can’t believe this, but in 2023, YouTuber Trevor Jacob actually went to federal prison for six months! Apparently, he intentionally crashed his own plane just to get views on his videos. It’s crazy to think someone would do that!

Two years ago, Taiwanese police required Twitch streamer Kiaraakitty to publicly apologize for falsely claiming someone threw eggs at her because she was accused of flirting with their spouse. She had fabricated the story of the incident.

With criticism mounting over recent online controversies, Schreiner says he simply wants to offer another apology to anyone he’s harmed. He explains that his intention has always been to spread happiness and good vibes.

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2026-02-11 19:19