Steps’ Ian ‘H’ Watkins pokes fun at ‘blocking’ gaffe

It’s the hilarious gaffe that’s set social media alight.

And, after thousands of fans were blocked from seeing his tweets, Steps star Ian ‘H’ Watkins has once again taken to Twitter to poke fun at the blunder by joking he’s had ‘a very busy day at the office.’

The singer’s Twitter account sparked a flurry of reaction on Tuesday when users complained he’d ‘blocked’ them, which was caused after the pop star used an online tool to clean up his social media accounts.

Cheeky! Steps star Ian ‘H’ Watkins has taken to Twitter to poke fun at a hilarious gaffe, after an online tool inadvertently led to thousands of users being blocked from seeing his account

Taking to his social media on Wednesday ‘H’ shared a funny throwback snap of himself behind a desk from Step’s early days, with the caption: ‘Busy day at the office! #blocked.’

On Tuesday, many of H’s followers were stunned to learn that they’d been ‘blocked’ by him, after a bot-cleaning tool left thousands unable to see his tweets.

While some fans were horrified to think they had been ‘blocked’ by the Tragedy singer, others were feeling left out not to be, after #BlockedByHFromSteps began trending. 

Unhappy: The singer’s Twitter account sparked a flurry of reaction on Tuesday when users complained he’d ‘blocked’ them

‘BLOCKED’: On Tuesday, many of H’s followers were stunned to learn that they’d been ‘blocked’ by him, after a bot-cleaning tool left thousands unable to see his tweets

Ian later took to Twitter to apologise for the error writing to one follower: ‘Hi James.. I recently signed up for a clean up of ‘bots’ & ‘phobes’ … apologies if the blocking offended.. I didn’t do this manually! Merry Christmas.’

Following the uproar he then cheekily shared a Tweet of Oprah Winfrey declaring ‘You get a block! You get a block! Everybody get’s a block!’. 

After realising they had been ‘blocked’ one fan wrote:  ‘I loved Steps, I didn’t even know he was on Twitter!’. 

Tragedy! Ian had used a tool to clean his social media account which inadvertently resulted in thousands of followers unable to see his tweets

Oops! Ian later took to Twitter to apologise for the error, insisting the ‘blocks’ were not intentional

While another said: ‘Who am I? I’m nobody, apparently I’m a nobody worth blocking according to H.’

While more commented: ‘His loss not mine!’ and ‘Having been #BlockedbyHFromSteps I’ve had a childish moment and blocked him back.’

Another shared a screenshot of herself ‘blocked’ writing:  ‘And me…..’

Cheeky: Following the uproar he then cheekily shared a Tweet of Oprah Winfrey declaring ‘You get a block! You get a block! Everybody get’s a block!’

A sixth said: ‘Huh I wasn’t even aware of this person but I am #BlockedByHfromSteps.’

And a seventh commented: ‘I am unfamiliar with this band but  regardless have been #BlockedByHfromSteps’, which one is H?’

While others appeared less impressed not to have been ‘blocked’ by the naughties pop star.

Gutted: After realising they had been ‘blocked’ one fan wrote: ‘I loved Steps, I didn’t even know he was on Twitter!’

One said: ‘Am disappointed that I’ve not been #BlockedByHfromSteps lol what have I done wrong?’

And another wrote: ‘What do I have to say or do to be #BlockedByHfromSteps.’

While  a third agreed: ‘I think I am the only person not to be #BlockedByHfromSteps.’

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Disappointed: While others appeared less impressed not to have been ‘blocked’ by the naughties pop star

Tweet cleaners allows users to quickly search Tweets by keyword or date to delete unwanted posts.

In October, Ian shut down a troll who called him a ‘coward’ for failing to have a male love interest in 2001 video for It’s The Way You Make Me Feel.

The star shared with his followers that the original idea for the 2001 It’s The Way You Make Me Feel music video had been taken from the 1988 film Dangerous Liaisons.

Seen singing and dancing with a female love interest in period costume for the music video ‘H’ said: ‘If I could change anything about this… I’d absolutely have a male love interest!’

Hitting out: In October Ian shut down a troll who called him a ‘coward’ for failing to have a male love interest in 2001 video for It’s The Way You Make Me Feel (pictured) 

Ian came out to fans six years after the video was released.

This prompted one user to comment: ‘You could’ve had a male love interest. You chose not to do so. Don’t play hindsight when it was cowardice.’ 

Ian hit back at the internet troll saying: ‘COWARD?? I mentioned that if I could change one thing about our videos, it would be to have a male love interest! I am not a coward.

‘I was still coming to terms with my sexuality. It was also a very different time to be openly gay.

‘I am now loud and proud in my life, work and activism. Times have changed, but we still have a long way to go ( even within the LGBTQI community- as this shows!).

‘It’s because of incredible trailblazers in our community that this generation CAN be their authentic selves.

‘Coming out is personal. It’s not for anyone to decide when you do it. Hopefully one day we won’t have to ‘come out’! So, before you type, think.. and be grateful that you can live your best life! #lgbt #lgbtq #comingout.’

He said: Ian hit back at the internet troll saying: ‘COWARD?? I mentioned that if I could change one thing about our videos, it would be to have a male love interest! I am not a coward