Francis Bourgeois, who became a viral personality on TikTok for his love of trains, has uploaded a video addressing those “doubting my authenticity”, amid speculation that his passion for trainspotting is “fake”.
It comes after images of the social media star in plain and “roadman” clothing surfaced on Twitter on Thursday – pictures which people felt were at odds with Francis’ persona and appearance in his hit videos.
In a video shared to his platforms on Friday, Francis said: “I’ve seen that people have been doubting my authenticity and whether I’m actually a trainspotter, mainly because of images where I was younger. I’d like to take you back to that time.”
The locomotive lover went on to explain that he started a new school in year seven, with his “favourite thing to do after school” was to play with his model railway, until he realised he was “experiencing feelings of loneliness”.
“So I decided to try and fit in a bit more at school. I gelled my hair up and decided to sell my model railway in order to fund my gym membership.
“I even wore roadman clothes, but it wasn’t me and it wasn’t making me happy at all.
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“Lockdown happened, my hair grew out and I reclaimed my love for trains through my videos – and honestly, running down platforms and chasing trains really feels like the shackles are off and I’m totally free,” he added.
Francis also said he has “met wonderful friends” and “life is more pure” after reconnecting with his “passion”, before stressing that trainspotters “come in all shapes and sizes”.
Following the video’s upload, Twitter users rushed to defend the trainspotter:
if u think francis bourgeois is fake purely because he uses a pseudonym and has pictures where hes not dressed in a train conductors outfit get ur head checked
— Memeulous (@Memeulous) December 17, 2021
Francis Bourgeois already made a Tik Tok debunking all these weird allegations that he doesn’t actually like trains😭 Y’all’s obsession with tearing this boy down is so odd man pic.twitter.com/CbQPZyUJ9Y
— india ysabel (@indiaysabel) December 16, 2021
every time you say francis bourgeois isn't real, a train dies
— Ed Campbell (@edcmpbl) December 16, 2021
I will defend Francis bourgeois with everything I have bc I too am a hot person who also really loves trains. We exist
— Róisín Lanigan (@rosielanners) December 16, 2021
Seeing the love affair the internet has had with Francis Bourgeois turn sour because they've seen him being "normal" in photos as Luke Magnus Nicolson just highlights how many perceive someone with special interests as two-dimensional and "cute" - rather than an actual person.
— Moya O'Rourke🌹 (@MoyaORourke) December 16, 2021
Francis Bourgeois addressing the haters who say his love of trains isn’t real…
— Greg Barradale (@GregBarradale) December 17, 2021
My heart 🥺🥺 pic.twitter.com/zHnWm61sBL
people trying to make out Francis Bourgeois is faking his love of trains is doing my head in. u can have a special interest or niche hobby and also,,, go to raves or produce music or do anything else. and it doesn’t mean he doesn’t like trains like people aren’t one dimensional
— catherine (@rectangulrhalos) December 16, 2021
Nah sorry I’m actually the number one member of the Francis Bourgeois defence this evening
— india ysabel (@indiaysabel) December 16, 2021
Protect him at all costs #FrancisBourgeois pic.twitter.com/4oEE99gK1E
— olly (@ollyrzysko) December 17, 2021
It was also the same on Instagram, where one commenter wrote: “Who’s questioning Francis? I just wanna talk, OK?!”
“It’s really easy for people who don’t know you to assume they know who you are through the microscopic lens that is the social media and the internet … Only you and the people who choose to share in your real life lived experience can know who you actually are,” another said.
We have the uncontroversial opinion that people should just let others enjoy things – keep on being you, Francis.
