Influencer Gracie Bon responds to fiery backlash over posing for photos in front of Panama earthquake rubble
The 29-year-old has hit back at critics who accused her of being insensitive as Panama grapples with the destruction caused by a powerful earthquake.
Panamanian influencer Gracie Bon has hit back at critics who accused her of being insensitive after she shared photos of herself amid the destruction caused by a powerful earthquake in her home country.
The model and body positivity activist, 29, faced a wave of criticism after posting images of herself posing amongst the rubble to her 11.9 million followers on Instagram.
“The reality of my country 🇵🇦 after the earthquake, we’re reminded that material things can be replaced, but life is priceless,” Ms Bon wrote in a caption alongside the photos of her showing off her curvaceous figure.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“Hug your loved ones a little tighter, be grateful for what you have, live in the moment, and show up for those who need it most. Stay strong, Panamá. we got this, we’ll get through it together.”
Some social media users questioned why she appeared in the photographs rather than focusing the attention on the residents who lost their homes in the natural disaster.
“How do I make this about me! What a need to go out posing in the middle of a disaster,” one person wrote in a translated comment.
Another added: “Let me find a good spot for the next photo... Unbelievable.. Just for looking for like.”
Ms Bon, who now lives in the United States but was born and raised in Panama, later defended her decision, insisting her intention was to highlight the extent of the devastation and encourage people to help the families in the quake-ravaged region.
“Context: All the news in my country were showing a perfect city after an 8.0 earthquake, but the reality was other for the countryside” she wrote in a statement shared on her Instagram Story.
“I went there to give donations and also took pictures of how it really looks. The reality, not the cute part that they were trying to show.
“I wanted you all to see the realty of what is happening in Panama, and I guess that mission was accomplished.
“Now, please help,” she asked of her fans. “These families need us.”
The controversy unfolded in the aftermath of a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck southern Panama on about 12.56pm on Friday local time.
Residents were forced to flee buildings as homes and infrastructure crumbled to rubble.
The quakes epicentre was located near Pitaloza Arriba in Herrera province , on the Azuero Peninsula, approximately 200km south west of Panama City.
The tremor was followed by a second powerful earthquake measuring magnitude 6.6, along with hundreds of aftershocks that continued to rattle the country in the following days.
