Porn actor Whitney Wright, who went viral following a visit to Iran, has responded to the online backlash to her trip.
Wright, whose real name is Brittni Rayne Whittington, caused controversy online after posting photos of herself visiting various locations in the capital city of Tehran to social media on Monday.
A number of people on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram accused the 32-year-old of promoting the Iranian government, which Amnesty International accuses of defying human rights norms and using "cruel and inhuman punishments."
"I'm extremely disappointed that the attention surrounding my visit [seems] to overshadow Israel's ongoing genocide in Gaza," Wright told Newsweek.
The Only Fans star has been a staunch advocate for civilians in the Gaza Strip following the outbreak of war between neighbor Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
On October 7, Hamas, which is based in Gaza, attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 240 hostages. Israel subsequently fired airstrikes on Gaza before cutting off supplies of food, energy, fuel, and medicine in the area. A ground offensive was later launched into the territory.
More than 27,000 people have been killed in Gaza as of February 7, according to the Associated Press, citing the Gaza Health Ministry. Two-thirds of the dead are women and children, with roughly 85 percent of Gaza's 2.3 million population displaced by the fighting, the AP reported.
"[Israel has] killed 27,000+ Palestinians and there has been no real intervention from any government," Wright said in the statement.
"Israel settlers are putting their bodies in front of aid trucks at Rafah crossing to block them from entering—while people inside Gaza starve."
"These are things that should have our attention."
Wright said it is her "sincere hope" that the media and public focus on the Israel-Hamas conflict rather than "the details of my private travels."
What Did Whitney Wright Post About Iran on Instagram?
Wright followed Iran's strict dress code, also known as the "hijab and chastity bill," during her stay in Tehran. The law primarily targets women and punishes people who violate the rules, with Wright sporting a head scarf and modest attire in the photos on Instagram and X.
She visited tourist spots including Saadabad Palace and the International Arts Museum, with social media users viewing the visit as an endorsement of Iran's government.
However, it was a snap of her with a lowered flag outside the former U.S. embassy that sparked particular outrage. The abandoned embassy was the site of the Iran hostage crisis, where 66 Americans were held captive by Iranian militants, some for 444 days.
The siege damaged relations between the U.S. and Iran, with the spot since turned into an anti-American museum.
Responding to critics on Tuesday, Wright said her visit to the museum does not mean she supports its message.
"I'm sharing exhibits from a museum that are never seen," she said in an Instagram comment. "It's not an endorsement of the government."
The U.S. State Department advises Americans to avoid Iran, telling the Associated Press that citizens are at risk for "wrongful detention." The production of pornography has been illegal in the country since 2007 and is punishable by death.
According to Iranian state news agency Tasnim, the visa system was "not aware of the nature of her immoral and obscene occupation," with a source confirming that Wright had not been invited to Tehran by any organization.
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Sophie is a Newsweek Pop Culture and Entertainment Reporter based in Lincoln, UK. Her focus is reporting on film and ... Read more
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