The anger of the spectators was brought by the movement of one influencer for also uploading “provocative” videos on TikTok in which she is seen dancing alongside her sick father while he was in hospital.
23-year-old content creator Athena Paris, who, as she states on her TikTok profile, is of Puerto Rican and Greek descent, has posted several videos of herself dancing next to her father’s bed in the hospital.
In the description of the video, Paris mentioned that her father is going through the hardest time her family has ever faced as he has tuberculosis and that dance is her way of dealing with it.
“I’m just thankful that God gave me time to take care of my father and help him recover,” she wrote.
@athena.parriss My dad has been in the hospital for 5 days and this was the biggest scare for me and my family. Thankfully he will be okay, but man! I’m just glad God gave me time to come and nurse my father back to health I HATE HOSPITALS… they are so depressing so I bring all the energy everytime I come. No sadness only dancing, I strongly believe you can love someone back to health.
“I HATE HOSPITALS… they are so depressing so I always bring energy when I come. No regrets, just dancing. I believe you can love someone until they are well,” he says in another post.
@athena.parriss Day 4 in the hospital and so far we have identified my dad has heart failure and liver failure. He is going in for a procedure today, and we are being optimistic! It’s better to be pro active then reactive when it comes to heart problems. He is nervous, but I am being strong for him, trying to occupy his mind and make him laugh even tho the hospital can be so depressing. On the positive my family has stepped up so much and this is the closest we have been in a long time. God is good, and my father has got a lot of life left to live. Just a little bump in the roadPlease keep my family in your prayers.
Her father looked tired and sad in the background of the videos while she danced vigorously, which many viewers called “disturbing” and accused her of showing no empathy, while others wrote that she is doing all this to have “content”.
However, there were also some who defended her, commenting that everyone deals with their problems differently.
In another video, Paris can be seen leaning over her father’s wheelchair and swaying her hips while talking about his heart and liver problems.
“Day four in the hospital and so far we’ve found that dad has heart and liver failure,” she said. “Today he will have an operation and we are optimistic! He’s stressed, but I try to be strong, cheer him up and make him laugh.”
@athena.parriss We celebrate the little wins over here.. or at least his daughter does
Again there was a split in the comments – some saw her as inappropriate, while others said her positive attitude might actually be helping.
In a final update, the influencer mentioned that her father was discharged and uploaded another video of her dancing by his bed, continuing the debate about whether such moments are appropriate for public viewing.