Chilean influencer faces backlash for exercising on torii gate

A Chilean influencer with more than 137,000 followers is the latest foreign content creator to make a splash in Japan. Marimar Pérez-Banus frequently uploads workout videos with her sister on her Instagram page under the handle @mmgymsisters, and posted a video of herself doing pull-ups on a shrine gate. Someone uploaded the video yesterday on X and wrote: “gringo” (“Stupid Foreigners”). It has been viewed more than 10 million times and has some angry comments.

Stupid foreign woman started doing pull-ups at the gate of the archway

Instagram @mmgymsisters pic.twitter.com/3bbfVfeeY5

-Masa (@masanews3) October 14, 2024

“What is this person doing at the torii gate? The shrine’s torii gate is considered the dividing line between the world of gods and humans, but this shows disrespect for Japan’s religious culture and customs… I hope she never comes to Japan again ” Wrote a user. ‘It’s a real shame for us’ commented other. “She does not represent what most Chileans think and understand about Japan.”

Nuisance influencer

Over the past few years, unsavory foreign influencers have made headlines in Japan for all the wrong reasons. The most notorious, of course, was anchor Ramsey Khalid Ismael – better known as “Johnny Somali” – who used “Hiroshima, Nagasaki” on a train … Let’s do it again” and other comments harassing passengers. Last year, he was arrested for trespassing at a hotel construction site in Osaka’s Chuo Ward. Although the charges against him were eventually dropped, he was fined by a Japanese court earlier this year for playing loud music in a bar. Gyudon (beef rice) restaurant.

Also making news in 2023 were four YouTubers traveling around the country for free. For the $10,000 challenge, They dodge train tickets, beg for bus fare and enjoy breakfast in five-star hotels before fleeing when the bill comes. Among them is Fidias Panayiotou, who has more than 2.6 million followers on YouTube and was elected to the European Parliament this year as an independent MEP.

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