After Elvis Presley’s death, the iconic Graceland Estate, which had served as his home and is his final resting place, was opened to the public on June 7, 1982. Since then, it has become a tourist site attracting thousands of visitors and fans of the late singer.
Recently, an incident unfolded at Graceland when one of the visitors made the headlines after sharing a video of himself doing someting he shouldn’t have been doing on the premises. His impulsive action stirred up significant controversy, leaving fans and admirers of Elvis with mixed feelings as they grappled with whether the late King of Rock and Roll would have approved of such a thing was he still alive to witness it.
Man plunges into a pool at Graceland Estate
@nannyxmurphy17 #fypシ゚viral ♬ All Shook Up – Elvis Presley
In a viral TikTok video with the caption, “My husband jumped into Elvis’s pool,” a British man, Tommy Purcell, boldly defied the sanctity of Graceland. The clip, originally shared on July 7, showed a man dressed in shorts, shoes, and socks as he brazenly crossed a barricade bearing a clear warning sign that read, “Restricted Area, Do Not Enter.”
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In a follow-up video from the same TikTok account, Purcell was seen reemerging from the pool and being escorted away by an individual in a brown uniform. Amid this episode, a woman’s voice could be heard expressing disapproval of his action, “You’re not allowed in there, my love. You’re not allowed to do that.”
Netizens react to the Elvis’ pool video
The videos sparked a substantial backlash online, with many TikTokers voicing strong disapproval of the man and considered his actions disrespectful to Elvis’ beloved home. “Whether people think ‘Elvis would be laughing’ or not, it’s all down to respect. There’s a reason as to why certain areas are roped off,” a TikTok user wrote. “Because it’s not their property, and he had no business doing it,” another user commented.
Nevertheless, even in the face of widespread criticism, some other people stepped forward to support Purcell, suggesting that the king himself might not have objected to the man’s audacious plunge into his pool. “I think Elvis would have done the same thing lol,” a TikToker wrote.