Model posed among earthquake ruins - and faced backlash online

Panamanian influencer Gracie Bon posted photos of herself among homes damaged by the earthquake in Panama. Users accused her of exploiting the disaster for likes. Bon responded with videos from the field, showing her relief efforts and directing followers to donation centers, but the criticism continued.

Panamanian influencer Gracie Bon, who has about 11.9 million followers on Instagram, posted photos of herself standing among the rubble of homes damaged by the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Panama on October 9. The images sparked a storm online: users accused her of exploiting the disaster for content and likes. Bon responded that her goal was to show the extent of the destruction and draw attention to the victims. She posted videos of herself assisting in the field, carrying water, and directed followers to donation centers. Despite her explanations, the criticism continued, with some commenters arguing that it is possible to help without turning every action into content. The earthquake caused heavy damage to more than 2,000 families, hundreds of homes were destroyed, and 27 people were injured, with no fatalities.