A disturbing TikTok trend emerging from Israel has sparked international outrage, as users mock Iranian news anchor Sahar Emami, who was forced to flee during a live broadcast following an Israeli airstrike on June 16, as per a report by the Al Jazeera.
Emami, a presenter for Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB, was on air when the studio was reportedly hit by an Israeli missile. Video footage shows her ducking for cover as the explosion rocked the set. Despite the chaos, she resumed broadcasting from another location shortly after, providing updates on the destruction and casualties at the network.
However, instead of empathy, Israeli TikTokers have turned her traumatic experience into parody content.
Several TikTok videos feature Israeli users—both men and women—draped in towels or black clothing to mimic Emami’s hijab, while acting out exaggerated scenes of panic. The mocking clips show them flailing, diving to the ground, and mimicking Emami’s composed gestures in a mocking tone.
Accounts such as @nevo.amrani and @noa_33333 were among those identified as taking part in this trend, which has rapidly gained traction.
Journalists, human rights activists, and media commentators have slammed the videos as insensitive and dehumanising.
“This isn’t dark humour—it’s cruelty disguised as comedy,” said a media ethics expert. “Turning real fear into entertainment in the midst of war reflects a moral collapse in digital culture.”
Critics argue that these videos belittle Emami’s bravery and trivialise the very real dangers faced by journalists and civilians during conflict.
This is not the first time Israeli social media users have been criticised for such content. In March 2025, a trend involving fake charity calls for Palestinian children also sparked condemnation, with users mocking humanitarian crises in Gaza.
Observers warn that these viral trends signal a dangerous shift where suffering is turned into spectacle.
“Social media must be used to raise awareness, not ridicule pain,” one human rights advocate commented.
