An Australian Instagram star has been criticized by social media users and forced to delete a post after she abruptly changed into an outfit for her fans while paying tribute to the Westfield Bondi Junction victims.
Sydney woman Patricia Lyden, known on social media as pattipinkcake, has gained a cult following on Instagram after sharing daily videos of her outfits.
The former legal aid lawyer often shares a video detailing the plethora of designer items she carries just before walking out the door of her Double Bay home.
Patti shared a tribute on Monday to the innocent shoppers who were killed and injured during the horrific stabbing attack at Westfield Bondi Junction on Saturday.
Sydney woman Patricia Lyden, known on social media as pattipinkcake, came under fire from social media users for a video she shared on Monday.
“Sydney and Australia suffered an unspeakable tragedy on Saturday weekend in Bondi Junction,” Patti told her fans.
‘My deepest condolences and solidarity to the family and friends of those who lost their lives and my wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured. I know that will take years both physically and mentally.
In the since-deleted video, Patti’s tribute abruptly turns into her giving an outfit review with a smile.
“Now I have to go out and I chose this to wear,” Patti said.
‘It’s Max Mara’s great mid-season jacket, I don’t know what I would do without it, it’s wonderful. Ralph Lauren Teddy Bear T-shirt: Something happy.
‘It looks like I’m going on safari, but I’ll probably just go to Woolworths and that can be a safari in itself. So have a great day and I’ll see you soon.”
Social media users criticized Patti for the video, with many stating that the post was “inappropriate” and did not take into account the victims’ feelings.
“No problem with condolences, no problem with fashion advice, but putting them together, wow,” one person commented.
‘Don’t you feel anything for other people? Is there no compassion for the victims? Don’t you realize the inappropriateness of your actions? Aren’t you ashamed? another wrote.
In the since-deleted video, Patti paid tribute to the six people who died and those injured during the attack before quickly moving on to check her clothing.
Some social media users were incredulous at the nonchalant way Patti quickly changed topics from paying tribute to the stabbing victims to listing designer items.
‘The “sorry for your inevitable PTSD” to the “look at my Ralph Lauren teddy bear t-shirt” was so perfect. “That’s quite a professional,” one person wrote.
“That’s maybe the softest ‘anyway, let’s move on’ I’ve ever seen,” a second commented.
A third joked: ‘I also prefer this bag when visiting mass murder sites. But I think Lauren’s accessories are a bit… from yesterday.’
Others were outraged by Patti’s reference to Woolworths being “like a safari”, especially after the tragic events that unfolded inside Westfield Bondi Junction.
‘That can be a safari in itself’… Is that some kind of twisted reference to what can happen in shopping malls? One word: horrible,” one person wrote.
Another person added: “Going to Woolworths, it can be like a safari,” literally after talking about murders in a shopping centre.
Six innocent shoppers, including five women and one man, were fatally stabbed at Westfield Bondi Junction (pictured, floral tributes from the public outside Westfield Bondi Junction)
Joel Cauchi, 40, was seen wielding a 30cm hunting knife (pictured) and stabbing random people, including a nine-month-old baby, before being shot dead.
Some defended Patti, stating that the Instagram star was “harmless” and that her video was “no big deal.”
“Patti is harmless, she’s fine, she made a blue here, overall she’s not a horrible person,” one person wrote.
‘Oh, leave her alone, she’s adorable. She’s really upset about the Westfield tragedy, but she also loves her fashion, with cute humor and self-deprecating wit,’ she wrote a second.
A third added: “I don’t understand the problem – she has an Instagram account where she describes her lifestyle.” So what?’
Patti later apologized for the video.
“It was not my intention to be disrespectful or minimize the tragedy as some have suggested,” he wrote.
‘I showed poor judgment and I appreciate the comments of those who were upset.
“Please accept my sincerest apologies.”
Patti has amassed over 49,000 followers on Instagram for her daily short videos.
In each video, he speaks in a low, reassuring voice and names the brands he wears.
WhatsNew2Day Australia has contacted Ms Lyden for comment.
It comes after six innocent people, five women and one man, were fatally stabbed and others injured in a terror attack at Westfield Bondi Junction at around 3.20pm on Saturday.
The killer, Joel Cauchi, 40, was seen walking through the center wielding a 30cm hunting knife and stabbing shoppers at random.
Twelve other people, including a nine-month-old baby, were seriously injured before NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott confronted Cauchi alone and shot him dead.