Grief is a universal emotion that affects us all differently. Everyone has their own ways of dealing with the passing of a loved one, and sometimes these means can be seen as taboo or inappropriate.
Recently, this was the case when Instagram fitness model and TikTok personality Jayne Rivera posted photos of her father’s casket at his funeral on social media.
Her post sparked an outcry from many people who felt she was disrespecting the solemn event in favor of likes on her posts.
Jayne Rivera comes from Miami Florida, where she is known for her fashion travel postings as well as swimwear modeling on both Instagram and TikTok.
When tragedy struck in the form of her father’s death, she decided to pay tribute to him by posting a series of pictures taken in front of his casket draped with an American flag at his funeral service.
The photos were described by social media users as “sexy” and “sultry” which outraged many people who thought them inappropriate for such a solemn occasion.
One user even called it “the most horrific Instagram post” they had ever seen.
Her caption read “Butterfly fly away. Rip Papi you were my best friend. A life well lived”.
This post didn’t go over very well with those familiar with funerals being conducted with reverence and respect for military heroes like Rivera’s father had been throughout his life – especially considering he had been decorated veteran.
Many others harshly judged both the timing of posting them as well as how little respect seemed evident from her posing style which included one leg lifted in front of open casket while praying in another picture.
In response to the backlash surrounding her “funeral photo shoot,” Jayne Rivera released a statement via NBC News defending herself saying she “understood the negative reception” but explained that these pictures were taken “with best intentions in a manner my father would have approved with had he still been alive.”
She further went on to say “Everyone handles the loss of a loved one in their own ways; some are more traditional while others might come across as taboo. For me, I treated the celebration as if my father was right next to me, posing for the camera as he had done on many occasions prior”.
So what do you think? Was this Instagram model in the wrong?
