An Australian influencer residing in Dubai has faced backlash for a perceived “selfish” remark made in a video.
Louise Starkey expressed her visible anxiety on Instagram after Iran launched a missile aimed at the UAE.
The situation intensified earlier today when an international airport and a luxury hotel sustained damage from the attack.
This retaliation appears to be a response to recent joint strikes by the United States and Israel on various Iranian targets, resulting in the death of Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader.
In the video, Starkey, dressed in a white robe, stands on her balcony, observing defense systems intercepting incoming Iranian projectiles.
“I’m scared. I’m really scared,” she starts the video, flipping the camera to reveal missiles near Dubai’s iconic skyline.
“That can’t happen here,” she continues.
She urges others to “take it easy” and shares that her main worry is for everyone’s safety: “I don’t want anyone to get hurt, you know?”
In her post, Starkey recounts her distressing experience from the day.
She notes, “All day long I’ve been hearing loud explosions.. it’s like windows shaking. I can’t quite explain it. It’s the weirdest noise.”
“This isn’t funny, guys. We’re supposed to be in the safest place. I love the UAE. I love being here. I always feel so secure, and now I don’t. Please stop.”
Reactions from Viewers
The video has garnered over a million views, and some viewers expressed discontent with her remarks.
One comment read, “‘It wasn’t supposed to happen here’ might be one of the most selfish things I’ve heard. As if it was meant to happen elsewhere. But honestly, I’m not surprised.”
Another user added, “It’s fine if this occurs in Gaza, but not to your privileged lifestyle.”
One more advised her, “Let’s avoid sharing videos that incite panic.”
On the other hand, some comments provided words of encouragement to fellow Australian expatriates, urging safety.
One viewer noted, “Today has been a surreal scene we never expected.”
Another expressed relief, stating, “It’s almost over. I believe firmly this land will not be harmed; just a temporary disruption.”
“Hang in there! Focus on what you can control,” another commenter suggested.
In a separate incident, a British traveler faced criticism for an “out of touch” TikTok post while stuck at Dubai airport.
She filmed airport staff unloading luggage while expressing her dissatisfaction about missing an upcoming event.
Viewers quickly reacted, with one saying, “This is completely inappropriate. People are dying.”
Another questioned her, “Is this a joke?”
In her defense, she later explained that she wasn’t aware of the gravity of the situation when she made her post.
Current Situation
Thousands of Australians are currently stranded as the world’s busiest airline route halts operations.
Dubai Airport has suffered damage due to missile strikes, grounding all flights indefinitely.
The Australian government has heightened its travel alert, advising against travel to several regions including the UAE and parts of the Middle East due to the ongoing security concerns.
“Military strikes on Iran have sparked retaliatory actions across the Middle East. The risk of further attacks and escalation remains,” a government statement noted.
“Given the current volatile situation, we’ve raised our advisory against travel to the UAE.”
