When an influencer with 11.9 million Instagram followers shared photos from the rubble of Panama’s deadly earthquakes, the images drew attention quickly. A lot of it was not the kind she wanted.
The Earthquakes
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck southern Panama on Friday, October 9, 2026, followed by a magnitude 6.6 quake. Officials later reported damage in all 10 of the country’s provinces and two Indigenous territories. Reports said at least 27 people were injured and homes collapsed.
The Post That Lit Up the Comments
On Sunday, October 11, Panamanian content creator Gracie Bon posted a six-photo carousel to Instagram showing collapsed buildings, scattered bricks and destroyed beds. Several photos showed her standing in the wreckage. Her Spanish caption called it “the reality of my country after the earthquake” and reminded followers that “life is priceless.”
Within 24 hours the post had drawn about 150,000 likes, along with thousands of comments from people who called it insensitive and accused her of turning a national disaster into a photo op.
Credit: Gracie Bon/Instagram
Her Response
Bon replied in a video the next day. She said she doesn’t earn money from the post, and that she wanted to raise resources and help one or two families rebuild their homes. On the image of herself, she said she picked it over a shot without her because it would reach more followers. “I’m not posing, I’m simply appearing in the photo on MY post,” she said.
She said she had donated money and handed out supplies to affected people, and noted that she had shared videos of herself buying supplies for victims before the controversial post. According to reports, she was visiting family in Panama City when the quakes hit and was not personally affected.
“Tomorrow you’ll forget about my photo, but that family will still be without a home,” she said, adding that she shares the good she does just as she shares trips or dance clips.
Where the Debate Stands
Credit: Gracie Bon/Instagram
The facts are clear: the post exists, the criticism was widespread, and Bon has responded. What remains a matter of opinion is whether including herself in the images helped or hurt the cause. Some viewers urged her to focus on aid efforts, while she says the attention is itself a way to raise money for families who lost their homes.
How to Help After a Disaster
If you want to make a difference after a disaster like this, a few practical steps help:
- Donate to established relief organizations. Look for disaster relief charities with a track record of transparent spending.
- Prepare your own household. An emergency preparedness kit with water, a first-aid kit and a battery radio is cheaper than you’d think.
- Review your coverage. Standard policies often exclude quakes, so compare earthquake insurance and home insurance options.
- Protect your trips. Travel insurance can cover cancellations if a disaster hits your destination.
Credit: Gracie Bon/Instagram
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in Panama? A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck southern Panama on October 9, 2026, followed by a magnitude 6.6 quake, damaging buildings in all 10 provinces.
Why was Gracie Bon criticized? Critics said it was insensitive for her to appear in photos of earthquake rubble, calling it a photo op.
How did she respond? She said she wasn’t posing, doesn’t profit from the post, chose a photo with herself to boost reach, and wants to help families rebuild.
How many followers does she have? About 11.9 million on Instagram.
Sources: People, Dexerto, Complex, and IBTimes, all covering the October 2026 Panama earthquakes, Gracie Bon’s Instagram post, and her response to the backlash.
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