Influencer Gracie Bon responds to backlash after posing in front of Panama earthquake rubble

NEED TO KNOW

• An Instagram post from influencer Gracie Bon showing her posing in front of Panama earthquake rubble quickly sparked criticism online.

• She hit back in a video, telling her 11.9 million Instagram followers that she shared her first post to draw attention to the “reality” of the destruction in Panama.

• “I don’t make money from this,” she said. “My intention was to help with resources and find one or two families that I could help rebuild their homes”

An influencer responds to criticism of her social media activity following the devastating earthquake in Panama.

On Sunday, October 11, content creator Gracie Bon shared a carousel of photos depicting the widespread destruction in Panama, after earthquakes measuring 7.7 and 6.6 struck the southern part of the country on Friday, prompting evacuations and causing buildings to collapse.

Her post – which included images of her posing in front of the rubble – sparked criticism online, with some commenters saying it was insensitive to include herself in images of the destruction. But in a video released the next day, the internet personality hit back.

Bon explained to her 11.9 million followers that she shared her initial post to draw attention to the “reality” of the destruction in Panama.

“I don’t make money from this,” she said. “My intention was to help with resources and find one or two families that I could help rebuild their homes.”

Directly addressing criticism over the inclusion of a photo where she posed near the rubble, Bon said: “If I’m in the photo, I don’t pose. I just chose a photo where I’m in it instead of one where I’m not, because I know it will get more attention from my followers and I’ll be able to help rebuild a house.”

The content creator said she donated money in the wake of the earthquakes and distributed donations to those affected by the disaster.

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“Just like I share travel or dance clips, I also share the good things I do,” she said. “Why should I hide them?”

Bon concludes: “Tomorrow you will forget my photo, but this family will always be without a home.”

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