Lebanese social media is deeply divided after a Lebanese-American porn starlet catapulted to the top of PornHub’s search chart.
Although the Florida-based model, Mia Khalifa, 21, celebrated her rise in fame as an adult performer this week, her name became a source of controversy back in her home country. NBC/Global Post reported on the social media flurry of outrage, discomfort, and support.
Some tweets even threatened her life. “[Your] head will be cut soon inshallah,” read one. Another claimed she will be met with “Hellfire” for her actions.
Other critics were more cerebral, with one Lebanese feminist lamenting that Khalifa’s route to liberation was through sexual “exploitation.”
But her supporters were also quite vocal. One Lebanese blogger cheered on the success of a native-born adult performer at the same time that the local government cracked down on the business.
Khalifa defended herself as well:
Doesn’t the Middle East have more important things to worry about besides me? How about finding a president? Or containing ISIS?
The young model moved to the United States as a teenager and made her porn debut in October 2014.
