Mia Khalifa Stirs Controversy in the Wake of the Lebanese Tragedy: Using Her Name for a Cause or Making It About Herself?

In the wake of the Lebanese tragedy when a massive explosion hit the capital city last Tuesday, the former American porn star born to Lebanese parents have taken to social media to attack Lebanese politicians, especially the Hezbollah-backed Lebanese president.

Using her Twitter and Instagram account, well-known Mia Khalifa has been quite active discussing politics in her ancestral country, mostly condemning corruption and aiming at politicians who, according to her, have caused Lebanon to be in such critical devastation.

Responding to her tweetstorms and Instagram stories dedicated to the topic, social media reactions varied as many people praised her effort "to educate" her 21m followers on Instagram and her 3.3m followers on Twitter about the Lebanese crisis, especially as she shared links to relief organizations that are receiving donations to help the impacted population.

Some tweets shared photos of an auction the former adult-movie star raised using eBay, selling eyeglasses she was most famous for throughout her career, pledging the money for humanitarian relief via the Lebanese Red Cross.

Meanwhile, other commentators argued that Khalifa is only "using the occasion to make it about herself." Such statements were made following Khalifa's attack on the Lebanese president after she was blocked by his official Instagram account.

The Beirut explosion went off in the city's main port last week as a result of a fire near tons of nitrate ammonia, killing more than 150 people, injuring at least 5000 people, and destroying hundreds of residential buildings across the capital.