Trevi Fountain tourist sparks backlash after allegedly diving into water
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A tourist visiting Rome sparked outrage and outrage on social media after taking a dip in the city’s famous Trevi Fountain.
The man was identified by British media outlet The Telegraph as a 30-year-old visitor from New Zealand. She was filmed jumping into the historic fountain, fully clothed, as nearby crowds watched.
A. TikTok video In the incident, which was watched more than 12 million times, the tourist is seen walking backwards, then running towards the fountain and then diving into the water.
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According to the press, the man continued to wander around the fountain even though police ordered him to get out.
Authorities reportedly fined him €500, or roughly $580, and banned him from returning to the site.
Above is Rome’s famous Trevi Fountain. A tourist (not shown) has come under fire online after he was caught on video jumping across the water fully clothed. (Seyit Konyalı/Anadolu, via Getty Images)
The Trevi Fountain is one of Rome’s most visited landmarks. It has endured repeated incidents of tourists entering the water despite strict rules and increased safety measures.
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The latest incident quickly sparked outrage online, with many commenters criticizing the tourist’s behavior as disrespectful.
“Sorry, fellow Italians. Some of us missed the lesson of respecting places,” one Reddit user wrote.
The Trevi Fountain is one of Rome’s most visited landmarks. It has endured repeated incidents of tourists entering the water despite strict rules and increased safety measures. (Li Jing/Xinhua)
Another commenter added: “I honestly didn’t get the ‘In Rome, do as the Romans do’ memo.”
Some argued that the punishment should be more severe.
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“If I were an Italian authority, I would follow this man as an example,” one user commented.
The controversy follows several similar incidents at the Trevi Fountain in recent years.
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Fox News Digital previously reported that Rome recently introduced new restrictions and fees aimed at protecting the Trevi Fountain from overcrowding and repeat tourist incidents.
The incident quickly sparked outrage online, with many social media users calling the tourist’s behavior disrespectful. (iStock)
As of February 2026, foreign visitors were required to pay a small entrance fee to access the landmark as city officials sought to better manage crowds and preserve the historic site.
According to Roman officials, the Trevi Fountain attracts tens of thousands of visitors a day and more than 9 million visitors a year.
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City leaders have previously said overcrowding at the fountain is becoming increasingly difficult to manage, especially during peak tourism periods.
Fox News Digital’s Ashley DiMella contributed reporting.
