TikTokers Dressing Up As Holocaust Victims Face Outrage From Internet
Image via Everett Collection / Shutterstock.com
Some TikTok users have been slammed for pretending to be Holocaust victims in a disturbing new trend.
In these videos, TikTokers wear the star of David, striped clothing and makeup to imitate bruisers and burns, and speak to the camera as if they are dead. Some footage shows the background emulating the Auschwitz concentration camp where many Jews died.
These bizarre videos, with the hashtags ‘#Holocaust’ and ‘#heaven’, have gone viral on the platform. It also sparked anger online, with many social media users calling the trend “trauma porn.”
“Right. Now can we please stop making Holocaust trends on TikTok? It’s straight up antisemitism and you all let it slide,” an angry user tweeted. Others thought the clips are offensive towards those whose loved ones were killed in the death camps.
Diane Saltzman, director of survivor affairs at the US Holocaust Museum, told Insider, “Imitating Holocaust experience dishonors the memory of the victims, is offensive to survivors and trivializes the history.”
However, those behind the videos have defended their actions, stating that the clips are meant to “educate people.”
One user who identified herself by the fictional name Rachel, and did not want to use her real name, told Insider that she participated in the TikTok video to “educate people” as it “was important to share these stories.”
“I’ve always been interested in the history of the Holocaust and just wanted to make a creative video informing people about it on TikTok. It was never intended to be offensive,” she explained.
this needs to stop 🤮🤮 pic.twitter.com/W916UIyS2S
— Patricia🏳️🌈✡️ (@Mowgli_Lincoln) August 18, 2020
— Patricia🏳️🌈✡️ (@Mowgli_Lincoln) August 18, 2020
Right. Now can we please STOP making Holocaust trends on tiktok? It’s straight up antisemitism and you all let it slide ❤️ pic.twitter.com/BQnijI9IpX
— Jane (@Janie_Dabah) August 18, 2020
THIS TRIGGERS MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD WHOSE LIVES, HEALTH, AND FAMILIES WERE GRAVELY EFFECTED!! @TikTokSupport pic.twitter.com/d3tVM7qIfA
— Patricia🏳️🌈✡️ (@Mowgli_Lincoln) August 18, 2020
HOW DOES THIS HAVE 51.4k LIKES!! THIS IS NOT OKAY.🤮@ cchynaa pic.twitter.com/HJQDn6ezbD
— Patricia🏳️🌈✡️ (@Mowgli_Lincoln) August 18, 2020
THIS IS BEYOND TRIGGERING THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY CAN MAKE THIS INTO A JOKE OR TREND 🤢🤢 @tiktok_comms @tiktok_us @tiktokcreators pic.twitter.com/5GRzHdejR2
— Patricia🏳️🌈✡️ (@Mowgli_Lincoln) August 18, 2020
This is really disturbing. Not only does it trivialise History, but totally dishonours the memory of the Holocaust and lived experiences of real people. Trends like this serve to reduce knowledge of why and how Jews were persecuted. Honestly baffled ... https://t.co/uaRa5up1JF
— Laura (@LJayneParkinson) August 23, 2020
WHO TOLD TIKTOK THAT HOLOCAUST POVS WERE A GOOD IDEA??????
— Adam (@adamkylometers) August 18, 2020
This is sickening. People need to be properly taught about the Holocaust. NOTHING about it is funny or should be used in such a manner.
— Bbangtan ⁷ (@BTSrelatedd) August 18, 2020
Apparently this is called “The Holocaust Challenge” and I’m actually in tears because of how gut wrenching this is. TikTok removed it once and she put it up again. Please stop. Please for the love of god stop. Please. We are in so much pain please please stop. https://t.co/HuCemlbVZe
— ☭ ✡︎ 𝓖𝓾𝓶 𝓑𝓪𝓵𝓵 ✡︎ ☭ (@LemmonLatte) August 19, 2020
[via Insider, opening image via Everett Collection / Shutterstock.com]
