The person responsible for a popular TikTok clip that misleadingly suggested a lady’s driveway was removed due to an outstanding payment states that he has subsequently been let go from his job, acknowledging that the situation is entirely his fault.
Alex Gray informed MailOnline that he has ‘definitely learned his lesson’ following a controversial act that garnered nearly one million views.
The previously removed video displayed employees of Kendall Contractors Ltd seemingly ripping up an asphalt driveway in Leeds, West Yorkshire, accompanied by the text: “Can’t pay? We’ll remove it.”
However, the homeowner — who had settled her £3,800 account entirely the previous year — was heartbroken over the video, which inaccurately portrayed her as someone avoiding payment.
Mr Gray, who shared the video snippet on
TikTok
,, he admitted that he had left the Leeds-based groundworks company and taken full responsibility for the situation.
He mentioned that he submitted his resignation to boss Tony Kendall, with his daughter Sophie Kendall noted as the only director of the firm.
Mr Gray stated, “Not only have I learned my lesson, but I’ve also lost my job over this.”
We have gone our separate ways. I simply expressed my apologies and moved on.
I chose not to involve his family in this matter since it doesn’t concern them at all; therefore, I decided to step back.
‘That was the most appropriate action to take.’
The video mistakenly suggested that the driveway was being demolished out of retaliation for not paying a £3,800 invoice.
However, the lady, who is in her 60s, settled the initial amount completely last year and has since been anticipating the repair of the area following issues with a ruptured water main and gas line that required her newly laid driveway to be excavated.
She mentioned that the £1,600 compensation from the gas company had been resting in her bank account, and Kendall Contractors had only recently come back to finish the remediation work.
This refers to the resurfacing project that Mr Gray shared online as a ‘vendetta prank’, seemingly aiming for widespread attention through internet hits.
It seems like the video portrays a man using a chainsaw to cut through freshly laid asphalt, accompanied by some tunes. Later, an excavator can be observed demolishing sections of the driveway.
Mr Gray mentioned that he visited the homeowner’s property in north Leeds himself to offer an apology along with some flowers.
He mentioned he could fully comprehend her frustration and acknowledged that he had completely recognized the act as a silly move.
I headed over to her place at 9 am today to say sorry. However, I’ve wrapped things up there now. This is why you find me back at home.
As I mentioned, it’s a lesson learned, right? You don’t grasp the impact of social media, which shows a lack of insight on my part.
‘Guess I have to face the consequences head-on.’
The church-attending property owner was unaware of the video’s existence until contacted by MailOnline.
She stated: “They uploaded a video on TikTok implying that I avoid paying my debts, which led them to tear up my driveway. However, the reality is that they did this simply as a joke.”
We’ve all seen shows like this before. But that’s not who I am.
‘Absolutely not the case. Actually, what happened was that they initiated the campaign for repairs since it required fixing.’
She added: “This has left me in a difficult situation. Individuals on social media believe I am someone who avoids paying their debts.”
The video has subsequently been removed, and Kendall Contractors uploaded an additional clip acknowledging that the details were inaccurate.
The firm stated: “We want to clarify some points from our recent TikTok post which was taken down after it went viral.”
The driveway was finished last year, with the customer settling the payment entirely. It had to be removed because the gas board conducted work at the property, necessitating excavation through a section of the driveway.
The customer requested us to return and correct the work that the gas board had performed on the new driveway. I personally apologized to this client because it attracted unnecessary attention.
Initially, when contacted by MailOnline, Mr Gray dismissed the video as ‘fake’.
It stated: “We were resurfacing it [the driveway] for the gas workers.”