Singapore-based influencer slammed for ‘insensitive’ Iran–Israel pun, later apologises
A Singapore-based influencer has apologised after netizens slammed her as insensitive for posting a pun referencing the Iran–Israel conflict while jogging at Marina Bay. The remark, shared on Instagram and TikTok, was widely criticised for making light of the escalating crisis.
- Singapore-based influencer Novita Lam faced backlash for an Iran–Israel pun that many netizens called insensitive.
- The post was reshared on Reddit, where users criticised her for making light of a serious conflict.
- Lam later apologised and said she would be more mindful.
SINGAPORE: A Singapore-based influencer has come under fire online after posting a pun referencing the ongoing Iran–Israel conflict, with netizens questioning the appropriateness of the remark amid escalating violence in the Middle East.
Novita Lam, who has more than 440,000 followers on Instagram and over 129,000 on TikTok, shared a clip of herself jogging in the Marina Bay area via Instagram Stories and TikTok.
In the video, which included her running statistics, she captioned it: “Iran this, Israel that. IRAN 5 km and the pain ISREAL” — a play on words using the names of the two countries.
The pun appeared to reference the physical strain of her run. However, the post was widely deemed insensitive given the current conflict in the region.
On Saturday, 28 February 2026, the United States and Israel launched a large-scale joint military operation against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The offensive reportedly targeted government ministries, military compounds and nuclear facilities across several Iranian cities, including Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, Karaj and Kermanshah.
The series of strikes reportedly resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, early that morning.
Lam’s clip was subsequently reshared on Reddit, where users criticised her for making light of a serious geopolitical crisis.
One user said that it was definitely insensitive of her and added that she likely thought she was being witty when she made the remark.
“I hate platforms giving clowns like this a voice to the public. Their outreach is usually super stupid and self-serving,” another user commented.
A separate user remarked that while Singaporeans tend to enjoy making puns, which are often cringe-worthy, this particular instance was on an entirely new level.
Influencer issues apology
Following the backlash, Lam posted an apology on her Instagram Stories, expressing regret over the incident.
“I would like to sincerely apologise for a story I posted earlier. It was insensitive and hurtful, especially with what is happening right now,” she wrote.
She added that she had removed the post as soon as she realised her mistake.
“I realised my mistake. I’m truly sorry for this. I will be more mindful moving forward,” she said.
