GymBeam founder Dalibor Cicman faces backlash over India social media posts

GymBeam founder Dalibor Cicman is facing significant social media backlash following posts shared during a business trip to Mumbai, India. The controversy began with a photo from an Indian slum featuring a caption about 'authentic Pateks' worth over $100,000. Many users interpreted the post as Cicman flaunting extreme wealth in a poverty-stricken area.

Cicman later deleted the original story and issued a clarification, stating that the hand wearing the luxury watch in the photo did not belong to him, but to a man he met in the slum who was wearing a replica. He explained that he was filming content about local entrepreneurship and was interested in the imitation watch.

Despite this explanation, criticism persisted. Users pointed to a subsequent post from The Taj Mahal Palace hotel with the caption ‘from Slum to 5*’ as being insensitive. The contrast between the imagery of the slum and the luxury hotel has led to calls for a boycott of his brand.