"Other People's Misfortune as Content?" ... Influencer Slammed for Posing Amid Earthquake Rubble

Amid controversy, she says, "My goal was to support affected residents and help rebuild their homes"

An influencer is facing fierce criticism on social media after posting a photo that appeared to show her flaunting her figure against the backdrop of rubble from homes destroyed by an earthquake. The influencer said the post was intended to show the extent of the damage and help affected residents.

According to the New York Post and other outlets on the 13th local time, Gracie Bon, a plus-size model from Panama, recently posted on Instagram a photo taken in an area damaged by a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake. In the photo, Bon poses amid the rubble of destroyed homes with both arms raised above her head.

Influencer Gracie Bon. Instagram.

Online commenters criticized her for using a disaster site as a backdrop for self-promotion. One commenter said, "Raising awareness about the situation on the ground and turning other people's suffering into content are two completely different things." Another asked, "Was it really necessary for Bon to appear in the photo to get the message across?" Others remarked, "Did she really have to pose?" and "I can't believe she took a photo in front of a collapsed house."

As the controversy spread, Bon posted a follow-up on her Instagram account, which has about 11.9 million followers, to explain herself. "I wasn't posing. I simply posted a photo of myself taken there," she said, insisting that she had intended to raise awareness about the earthquake damage. She added, "My goal was to provide affected residents with the resources they need and find people who can help them rebuild their homes." Bon also shared a photo of herself delivering a box of water to residents affected by the disaster. She said she was also raising donations to help rebuild homes.

However, criticism continued. One commenter said that helping affected residents and turning that aid into social media content and posting it were separate issues. "Many people feel uncomfortable when everything you do turns into self-promotion," the commenter said, adding, "You can do good things without posting them on social media."

Bon made headlines last year when she criticized carmaker McLaren, saying her hips measured 55 inches (about 140 cm) and she could not fit into a sports car.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.