The 'TikTok famous' Smithy family have quit all social media after a suspected arson attack destroyed their home in Welling
The family have over 3.5 million followers on TikTok, but posted on Facebook yesterday saying the last week had been too much, adding "Goodbye Beautiful People" before quitting all social media platforms.
Firefighters were called to a fire on South Gypsy Road at around 11pm on Wednesday, July 14, but the blaze destroyed large parts of the house as well as vehicles along the road.
The house was revealed to belong to the social influencers who shared dramatic footage of their semi-detached house on fire after Dad Nick and mum Jess were forced to grab their two young daughters Amelia, 6, and Isabella, 9 and a newborn baby boy.
London Fire Brigade said flames appeared to spread to the house from a burning car on the driveway, with the fire under control by 00:30, and the cause of the fire is being treated as arson.
In the video posted to Facebook, Nick revealed that the last week had been "too much," and that they were moving to a gated property while there home is repaired after receiving help from a GoFundMe set up in support of the family.
“This past week I’ve tried filming, I’ve tried getting in the spirit of it, but at the minute the happy bit has gone.
“It’s been taken away.”
In the emotional farewell post, Nick said: "The insurance is going to fix the house but the home will never be a home again.
"We can't thank people enough for their kind messages.For the people who set up the Go Fund Me, you guys know I'm a very proud person.
"I like to fix things, I'm the person people go to for help. So for me it is hard to take that in that so many people were offering to help and try to support my family."
He also revealed they would be using the money to rent out a home privately in a gated community "off the beaten track".
"You guys have given us a year's breathing space. So we can pay the rent upfront and begin to put our family back together," he added.
"I will be forever thankful for everyone that done that."
He also took aim at online abuse and trolls, adding: "If you're going to put death threats down or if you are going to say something that is damaging and not real you need to be able to held accountable for that."
The 33-year-old told the BBC that they had spent four months and "all of our hard-worked money" creating their dream home, leaving him crushed at the state of the wrecked home.
A GoFundMe page set up for the family enabling the family to move to a gated property on a private estate, while their house was repaired, Nick said.
Dad-of-three Nick said the cowardly attackers were armed with a "milk bottle full of accelerant" as he urged anyone with information about the men to come forward.
There were no injuries. and no arrests have yet been made, but police said they were in regular contact with the family during "what has been an unimaginably difficult time."
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