‘Chernobyl’ TV show creator urges tourists, Instagrammers to show respect after raunchy pics go viral

‘Chernobyl’ TV show creator urges tourists, Instagrammers to show respect after raunchy pics go viral

The creator of HBO’s successful mini-series Chernobyl has asked visitors to “comport yourselves with respect” at the site after a misleading viral tweet exposed Instagram influencers taking raunchy photos.

Since the show aired in May, the Ukrainian tourism industry has seen a 40 per cent rise in tour bookings to Chernobyl, with visitors from all over the world flocking to the site of the worst nuclear disaster in human history and the abandoned town of Pripyat.

But along with the strange success for the region as a result of the biopic, Pripyat has also played host to an equally strange trend – with photographers and Instagrammers who are taking widely criticised ‘glamour shots’ while visiting.

Among them is Instagram user ‘nz.nik’ (who has more than 7,000 followers) who posted several images from Pripyat in what appears to be a hazmat suit with matching mask falling from a near-nude woman’s body.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BynsGXno3kt/

The public attention on the suspect Chernobyl photography trend reportedly stems from a misleading bait-tweet that went viral for displaying what it said were several “Instagram influencers” who were taking pictures in Pripyat.

https://twitter.com/komacore/status/1137692054899908608

Following the bait tweet and photos taken in the region, Chernobyl creator Craig Mazin urged visitors to remain respectful when visiting the site of the tragedy.

 

https://twitter.com/clmazin/status/1138576162781683712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1138576162781683712%7Ctwgr%5E393039363b74776565745f6d65646961&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fentertainment%2Farts%2Fla-et-st-chernobyl-social-media-influencers-craig-mazin-20190612-story.html

The Chernobyl Zone guest code asks visitors to “remember human sufferings and victims, and behave accordingly”.

However, the tweet which exposed the phenomenon has been criticised for misconstruing and inaccurately conveying that the Instagram images taken in Pripyat came from influencers, with one image coming from an account that has little over 500 followers at time of publishing.

The Atlantic‘s Taylor Lorenz said on social media that the tweet was “rude and stupid” and that it had cropped out captions discussing the tragedy.

https://twitter.com/TaylorLorenz/status/1138624446984544258

Lorenz later clarified that only one of the people displayed was an actual influencer – swimwear founder Julia Baessler, who has more than 300,000 followers – and that the tweet was baiting people’s assumptions of influencers.

Julia Baessler reportedly removed several raunchy images taken at the abandoned town’s carnival after drawing criticism for them but left her less suspect, fully-clothed images of her visit to Pripyat.

The Los Angeles Times wrote that the new fad seemed to be another “unofficial instalment” of “Selfies in Serious Places”, grouping it with the likes of questionable photos taken at Holocaust memorial sites and New York’s Ground Zero – where the World Trade Center once stood.

Latest News

  • Destinations

Tropical North Queensland action-packed events calendar for adventure enthusiasts

Sporting enthusiasts and adventure seekers are gearing up for an action-packed year in Tropical North Queensland, with a lineup of sports events and adrenaline-pumping experiences set to take centre stage in 2024. Leading the charge is the highly-anticipated return of the Crankworx World Tour ‘Paradise Edition’ to Cairns from 22-26 May 2024. The mountain biking […]

  • Aviation
  • Sustainability

Singapore Airlines Group first to receive SAF from Neste as AU/NZ play catchup

Singapore Airlines (SIA) Group has signed an agreement with Neste to purchase 1,000 tonnes of neat Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel TM. The purchase makes SIA and Scoot the first carriers to receive Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) produced at Neste’s refinery in the country, at Singapore Changi Airport. The milestone will also mark the first […]

  • Aviation

Qantas Red Tail sale discounts more than 200,000 fares

Qantas has launched its latest International Red Tail sale, discounting more than 200,000 fares to Los Angeles, New York, Honolulu and other US destinations, plus Vancouver. The discounted seats are available to book either as a cash fare or as a reward seat using points. Thirty routes are on sale, including 10 for under $1,199 […]

  • Health & Wellness

Bannisters by the Sea unveils retreat style package for new mothers

Boutique hotel Bannisters by the Sea has revealed a brand-new package for new mothers – Bannisters Mummymoon – right in time for Mother’s Day. Designed to nurture and rejuvenate new mothers, this luxurious escape prioritises postpartum self-care and wellbeing in a serene coastal setting. Reconnecting and Recharging: The two-night Mummymoon allows mums to reconnect with […]

  • Destinations

APT offers destination incentives to enjoy the Best of Asia

APT Luxury Travel launches has launched its Asia Sale featuring 20 trips, with journeys through Vietnam and Cambodia as highlights, as well as opportunities to explore Japan, South Korea, India and Sri Lanka. It’s ‘Spiritual Cambodia and the Mekong’ land and river cruise tour for example takes guests on an all-inclusive 11-day journey through Vietnam […]

  • Travel Agents

Disney Days returns with Inside Out 2 showing in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Auckland

Time is running out for agents to register their Expression of Interest to an exclusive screening of the much-anticipated Disney and Pixar film, Inside Out 2, hosted by Disney Destinations Australia/New Zealand team and partner United Airlines. Places are limited and applications must be in by 17 May. In addition to the screening of the […]

  • Cruise

Aranui Cruises slashes prices with No Single Supplement and Half Price offers

French Polynesian cargo cruise line Aranui Cruises is slashing thousands off its 2025 Austral and Marquesas Islands cruises with an autumn sale offering 50 per cent off the second guest in a twin share room and no single supplement for solo travellers. On sale until June 21, 2024, Aranui’s 12-day roundtrip voyage from Papeete to […]

  • Destinations

Raes on Wategos celebrates 30th birthday and guests get the presents

World famous luxury boutique hotel Raes on Wategos, in Byron Bay, has launched its 30th birthday celebrations with a Raes Indulgent Escape package. Available for all stays of two nights or more, from June to August, the curated package offers an invitation to indulge in a shared celebration of Raes 30th birthday, whilst revelling in […]