Influencer Faces Backlash for Posing Amid Earthquake Rubble in Panama

Social media personality Gracie Bon has drawn widespread criticism for posing for photos amid the destruction left by a recent earthquake in Panama.

Bon, who has nearly 12 million followers on Instagram, shared a series of images on Sunday showing her standing in front of collapsed buildings and wreckage. In one photo, she is seen standing on rubble with her hands raised, while another depicts her kneeling before a damaged house. She wore jeans and a crop top in the photos, which she captioned as "The reality of my country after the earthquake." She added, "We have to remember that the material is recovered, but life is priceless. Live the present, be grateful for what we have and extend help to those who need it today."

The post quickly generated backlash, with many commenters accusing Bon of staging a "photo shoot" and exploiting the tragedy for content. "I would never take a picture in the middle of a tragedy, people and their stuff," wrote one user. Another commented, "Unbelievable... Just for looking for likes."

The magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Panama southwest of Pitaloza Arriba on Friday. The tremor caused buildings to collapse, roads to split, and roofs to cave in, with damage concentrated in the central part of the country. According to Reuters, at least 27 people were injured and nearly 900 homes sustained damage, though no deaths have been reported.

Bon defended her actions in a comment on her post, explaining that the photos were meant to illustrate the "reality of her country" because "many news [sites] don't show it." She stated her intention was to encourage donations for victims, believing her appearance in the photos would increase their reach on her platforms. "I decided to appear in my photos because I want people to make donations and if I appear in my photos they have a better reach on MY NETWORKS than if I put the images alone," she wrote. She added, "I'm not in a photoshoot or posing, I'm telling y'all 'Look, this is how Panama really is.'"

Earlier on the day she posted the controversial images, Bon shared videos of herself collecting and distributing supplies such as bottled water and rice to affected families. She also provided information on donation drop-off points for essential items like non-perishable food, hygiene products, and diapers.

In a video addressing the criticism on Monday, Bon reiterated that she had not profited from the post and questioned why commenters were focusing on her photo instead of the plight of the families who lost their homes. "Tomorrow you will forget about my photo, but that family will remain without a home," she said. "There are people who get more outraged by a photo than by seeing families lose everything. Sometimes the problem is not what we do, but the eyes with which you decide to see it."