An Australian influencer residing in Dubai recently faced backlash over a “selfish” remark consisting of seven words.
Louise Starkey shared a video on Instagram, visibly alarmed, as Iran launched missile strikes targeting locations in the UAE.
The attacks intensified today, resulting in damage to the international terminal and a luxury hotel.
This act of retaliation followed a joint military operation by Israel and the U.S. against multiple Iranian sites yesterday, leading to the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In the video, the Australian expatriate stands on a balcony in a white robe, observing defense systems intercept the Iranian missiles.
She begins her post with the words, “I’m scared. I’m actually so scared.”
Starkey flips the camera to show the scene of several Dubai skyscrapers and a missile skimming the skyline.
“It’s not meant to be happening here,” she added.
“Can’t everyone just chill out?”
She then explains her biggest concern is the safety of others: “I don’t want anyone getting hurt, you know what I mean?”
In the post, Starkey explained what she had been witnessing over the course of the day.
“I’ve been hearing … loud explosions sort of in the background all day … the sound, it like shakes the windows. I don’t know how to explain it. It’s like the weirdest sound ever,” she detailed.
“This is not fun, guys. We are supposed to be in the safest place. I love the UAE, I love being here. I feel so safe all the time, and now I can see it. Please just stop.”
Commenters respond
Some people took issue with the video, which has since been viewed more than one million times.
“‘Not meant to be happening here’ has to be one of the most selfish statements I have ever heard. As if it’s MEANT to happen anywhere. But am I surprised!? Really, REALLY NOT,” one wrote.
“The entitlement. It happens in Gaza, it’s fine. But if it happens to your luxury lifestyle, ‘it’s not meant to happen,’” a second added.
“We trust our leadership, and this phase will pass. Let’s avoid sharing videos that spread fear or panic,” another advised.
Some comments did offer the Aussie expat words of comfort and urged her to stay safe.
“Crazy scenes today that we would’ve never imagined,” one wrote.
Another reassured: “It will be over soon. I’m in [Dubai], and I’ve been seeing them all day, but I have a very strong belief that this land is a land of peace and won’t be harmed. It’s just a temporary disturbance that will end soon. Stay strong.”
“Hang in there, girly. It’s not nice for anyone. But worry about what you can control! And that’s your mindset,” a third added.
news.com.au has contacted Starkey for comment.
Meanwhile, a British traveler, has been slammed over her “out of touch” TikTok posts while experiencing delays at Dubai Airport.
User, elliesketched, filmed as she watched ground staff take bags off aircraft, while she pondered next steps.
“I assume we’re going to have to check into a hotel somewhere,” she said.
“It’s really annoying actually cause we have got events.”
In other posts she explains her frustration after being unable to access the airline lounge and that waiting for information from airport staff has led to a “waste of a day.”
Followers were quick to call her out.
“This is so out of touch – people are dying,” one user wrote.
Another said: “I can’t believe you posted this.”
“Is this a joke?” a third questioned.
In response to one commenter the woman explained she had not been aware how bad things were becoming when she hit post.
Follow The Post’s coverage of the United States’ airstrikes on Iran:
Warnings have been issued, with thousands of Aussies stranded as the world’s busiest aviation corridors come to a halt.
Dubai Airport suffered damage from a missile strike this morning, with all flights suspended until further notice.
The Australian government has raised travel warning levels in Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, all of Palestine, including Jerusalem, Lebanon, Bahrain and Iraq to ‘do not travel’ due to the current “volatile security situation”.
“Retaliatory strikes are occurring in several countries across the Middle East region, following military strikes on Iran. There is a risk of further reprisal attacks and escalation across the region,” Smartraveller said in a statement.
“Due to the volatile security situation in the region and military strikes we’ve raised our level of advice for the UAE to do not travel.”
