American porn star turns up the heat over Gaza genocide
Oklahoma-born porn star Brittni Rayne Whittington, commonly known by her stage name Whitney Wright, sparked controversy over a recent trip to Iran, according to American magazine Newsweek.
On February 7, she defended her visit to Iranian capital Tehran and said it was to “speak out” against Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
Wright, 32, visited the Middle Eastern country last month and posted numerous pictures on Instagram of her in a hijab, a forced dress code as various rights groups worldwide, notably Amnesty International, have condemned the country’s abhorrent treatment of women.
After sharing her trip to her 1 million Instagram followers, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that she was left unchecked for occupation by Visa issuer system and that she was not invited by any officials in the Iranian government, implying it was a personal trip.
The Los Angeles-based adult film star, who has been vocal in her support of Palestine and more specifically the besieged Gaza, has since deleted all her posts published in the country following widespread media attention.
She told Newsweek that she was disappointed that her controversial visit to Iran “seems to overshadow Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza”.
The brutal Israeli state has killed just shy of 29,000 Gazans as of February 12, two thirds of which are women and children.
READ: US Comedian faces backlash over pro Israel posts
Wright added that, “Israel has killed 27,000+ Palestinians and there has been no real intervention from any government.
“Israeli settlers are putting their bodies in front of aid trucks at Rafah crossing to block them from entering while people inside Gaza starve.
“These are things that should have our attention.”
Viral footage of Israelis obstructing aid convoys attempting to deliver basic necessities to the people of Gaza has stoked anger amongst dozens of social media users.
The Israel-Palestine conflict has further fanned the flames of a raging political climate in the United States in particular, emphasised by porn star turned model and campaigner Mia Khalifa’s dismissal from brands that she had been collaborating with.
Following the Hamas assault on Israel, the Lebanese American celebrity jokingly wrote on X (previously Twitter) , “Can someone please tell the freedom fighters in Palestine to flip their phones and film horizontal”
American magazine Playboy and drug company Red Light Holland severed ties with Khalifa with the latter’s CEO Todd Shapiro writing in a tweet to her, “consider yourself fired”.
Khalifa later said that she was in no way inciting violence and continues to voice her solidarity with the Palestinian people, something she has historically done.
Arguably the most famous person in the world of porn, the pro-Palestine activist left the industry, citing the uncomfortable situations she was put in and death threats from ISIS for her departure.
Newsweek/ Daily Mail UK
