TikToker defends sponsored Israel trip: ‘I’m just trying to survive’

Durban content creator Roseanne Pilay, popularly known as “Roseyma”, has defended herself amid backlash to her recent sponsored trip to Israel. The TikTok influencer was one of 12 South Africans invited to explore Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

The controversy arose out of public support for Gaza, and South Africa’slandmark case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Israel of committing acts of genocide against Palestinians.

INFLUENCER NOT SORRY OVER ISRAEL TRIP

In the first week of November, Roseanne Pillay joined a group of 12 South African content creators who were invited to explore Israel on an all-expenses-paid trip.

The Chatsworth-born woman stated that she was approached by an organisation, which she did not wish to name, to create content during their time in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and the Dead Sea.

The 47-year-old grabbed the opportunity with both hands, stating that it had been a “lifelong dream” as a Christian to “walk on the land where Jesus walked”.

However, the popular TikToker, known as “Roseyma” was inundated with backlash from followers who accused her of supporting the “gnocide” country.

On her accounts, Roseanne has clapped back at her critics and defended her decision to accept the sponsored vacation.

She told Sunday Tribune that she was unaware of the conflict between Israel and Gaza.

She said: “I am being honest when I say I did not know the history between Israel and Palestine. I had too many issues in my own life and was trying to survive to put food on the table. It may sound insensitive, but I am just trying to survive.

“I did not even research the country; I only checked on the weather so I knew what clothes to pack”.

Roseanne added that while she has since become aware of the extent of the backlash, she used her own personal hardships to relate.

She continued: “I know people are suffering, but I suffered as well as a child. I stood outside people’s doors asking for food. People eventually got fed up and told me to leave. So do not think I do not care about people. I just had my own struggles to deal with.

“People started speaking about genocide and, to be honest, I did not even know what the word meant. It was not my fault that I could not finish school. I was worried about surviving.”

‘I AM TRULY SORRY’

While “Roseyma” did not apologise outright for accepting the sponsored trip to a country many of her followers described as promoting “Apartheid”, another TikToker, Andile Ngidi, known as Space Andza, has published a written apology for being part of the group that travelled to Israel.

Andile cut short his week in the country and returned to South Africa amid the social media backlash.

He shared: “I have seen and noted all the concerns, critiques, and disappointment surrounding my trip to Israel. I have come to understand the hurt and disappointment my presence here during this painful time has caused to many of you. I am truly sorry.”

While he claimed his Christian faith was his biggest motivation for accepting the invitation, he confessed that he had not properly researched the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

He added: “As a young queer man from a disadvantaged background, opportunities like this do not come often.

“My ambition and my desire for this spiritual experience got ahead of me, and I did not do the thorough research I should have done before entering into this partnership.”