An Instagram influencer said he will not remove a controversial post accused of making light of sexual assault, telling critics to 'keep it down'

• "Afffirmations" Instagram page owner Matteus Andersen has responded to backlash over a recent post.
• The post included an affirmation that read, "I will only have consensual sex."

The creator of a popular Instagram account has responded after facing backlash for a recent post that some followers perceived as making light of sexual assault.

Despite several appeals in the comments section for the post to be removed, Matteus Andersen, 20, confirmed to Insider in an email that he has no intention of taking it down.

Andersen began live streaming on Instagram yesterday after coming under fire for one of the affirmations he posted on Sunday. The post read, "I will have consensual sex," and the text was overlaid on an image of Rapunzel from the Disney movie "Tangled." In the image, Rapunzel is edited to have red hair and tattoos.

The @afffirmations Instagram account is one of several affirmations-themed social media accounts that have soared in popularity this year, with the page amassing 800,000 followers since January. Andersen began posting daily affirmations - positive statements that are designed to challenge negative thinking - which are usually overlaid on images of celebrities, memes, and other imagery with Y2K aesthetic (a visual trend reminiscent of mid-1990s and early-2000 pop culture).

While the post amassed over 90,000 likes, many Instagram users said in comments that they thought it should be deleted, with several commenters saying the affirmation could be "triggering" to those who have experienced sexual assault.

Some said the post was "inappropriate," believing it implied that affirmations could stop people from being sexually assaulted.

Responding to one comment saying that that the affirmation in question "isn't funny," Andersen wrote, "It's not meant to be funny."

Another most-liked comment asks why the affirmation in question "is a meme," and Andersen replied, "It's whatever you think it is. First and foremost it's an affirmation trying to convey an important message."

In the Instagram Live, Andersen said that while he did not intend for people to be "provocated" by the affirmation, he is "happy [to be] able to contribute to spreading awareness [...] especially in the comments section."

He then added, "If you are uncomfortable with me expressing myself and utilizing my artistic freedom, then you are welcome to unfollow this page."

During the livestream, Andersen also said users were being "aggressive," "spreading hateful comments," and purportedly calling him a rapist. Insider was unable to find comments that contained allegations of rape against Andersen.

He also said that it was "not right" for some commenters on the post to be criticized by others "for having different opinions," and said the post would not be removed despite backlash.

"Keep it down," Andersen said. "It is just a picture on social media trying to spread awareness."

In an email statement to Insider, Andersen said, "Let it be known, that I by NO means support any form of sex without consent. There should be no debate regarding this matter. I stand by the victims of sexual abuse."

"I am sorry for any confusion I may have stirred. It is also highly unfortunate that the comments on this post have evolved into blatant hatchet jobs. This was far from my intention. The affirmations are not jokes, satire or irony. I make art, and the affirmation is my format."

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