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A TikToker touring in Vietnam shared a video of herself crying over an area who rowed their boat and added the 'poverty' hashtag. She's getting blasted for 'slum tourism.'

  • TikToker Fiona Wang posted herself crying for a lady who rowed her boat in Vietnam on Might 6.
  • The video went viral with over 6.7 million views, receiving criticism from many customers.
  • In response to the backlash, Wang informed Insider that she was not wanting down on Vietnamese folks.

Journey TikToker Fiona Wang is going through backlash after posting a tearful journey video on Might 6. 

Within the video, Wang is seen crying whereas her associate comforts her, with captions explaining that she was crying as a result of the Vietnamese girl who rowed her coconut boat “tried so arduous to make us comfortable.”

@heyfionawang Visiting vietnam turned out fully completely different to what i anticipated. I’ve by no means been so moved by the folks in my life. I noticed a lot happiness right here, kids enjoying collectively, households spending time with one another and actual smiles. However on the identical time i noticed a lot poverty. Individuals working from 5 years previous to ladies like her doing such a bodily job. It breaks my coronary heart everytime i say no or when i’ve to tear a toddler whose begging for assist off me. When i left this girl on the coconut boat i couldnt cease crying regardless that i had the most effective time ever. She was so lovely so humorous and he or she jogs my memory of how arduous my mum labored when she first migrated to Sydney. We tipped everybody that we met however I want i might do extra for these folks however i really feel so helpless. Whenever you guys go to SE Asia, please carry extra cash with you, purchase extra fruit from locals, tip generously, say thanks and be variety and do extra so the least we are able to do is admire them. I’ve a lot to indicate you about my time right here in vietnam as a result of I thinks it’s necessary that all of us try to see as a lot as we are able to so we are able to develop our perspective #vietnam ♬ Residence – Edith Whiskers

The TikTok video, posted by Wang as @heyfionawang, has since gathered over 6.7 million views and 1.2 million likes as of  Might 8.

“It breaks my coronary heart to see these folks work so arduous to make a dwelling in Vietnam,” stated the in-video captions.

And customers are divided on her emotional response — some discover it candy, whereas others discover it condescending.

“It makes me cry too,” reads a optimistic remark, “you will have a very good coronary heart and that is the necessary half,” learn one other. 

In the meantime, criticism littered the feedback part. “Do you cry first then file it otherwise you file it then cry? Do tutor on this please,” learn one.

A few feedback identified the hashtag #poverty within the video’s captions, which has since been eliminated. 

Some TikTokers have even stitched her video to name her out on being “voyeuristic and exploitative.”

 

“That is referred to as slum tourism. She’s turning poverty and arduous work of the folks into leisure, right into a spectacle, one thing that may be momentarily skilled by her, however then she will escape it simply,” stated TikToker @doc.ho in a video with over 532,000 views.

Wang informed Insider that she posted the video “very spontaneously,” and that it was a “very actual and uncooked second” for her, opposite to her normal rigorously curated and edited content material.

“Being Asian Australian, I do know I’m very privileged to have grown up in Australia, however I additionally perceive the battle. My dad and mom are immigrants and I spent a few years in China,” Wang informed Insider.

She added that many took her video as wanting down on Vietnamese folks, however she “by no means stated Vietnamese folks have been poor or sad.”

“In truth in my caption, I stated I can see a lot real happiness and the familial bond is unimaginable. However I did additionally see poverty and battle and seeing each side actually did hit me arduous,” stated Wang.

The journey creator understands how the video might have rubbed folks the unsuitable means, making it seem to be she was “asking for consideration,” however she does not need her content material to solely be “highlights of enjoyable and comfortable moments.”

“It ought to replicate the opposite facet too, once I’m unhappy, making errors, or studying,” Wang stated.

“And I do not assume I have to justify all of this to the individuals who depart adverse feedback. As a result of I received an awesome quantity of optimistic feedback from individuals who admire seeing this facet and understanding the place my intentions have been,” added Wang.