Chilean influencer criticized for video – Influencer criticized for using sacred Japanese symbol in training video, later apologizes

A gymnast and social media influencer from Chile, Maria del Mar “Marimar” Perez Banus, found herself on the receiving end of the internet after she shared a video of herself displaying a sacred Japanese symbol – the torii, how she used it as fitness equipment.

The now-deleted video, originally uploaded to her Instagram account, shows Perez casually performing pull-ups using a torii, a traditional gate found at the entrance to Shinto shrines.

The symbol marks the transition from the everyday world to sacred ground in Japanese culture. However, Perez seemed unaware of its significance and used it to swing her legs to the beat of DJ Casper’s Cha Cha Slide.

Although she deleted the video following the backlash, it has already gone viral on social media. Several users posted the viral video. A clip of the video was also posted on X by a user.

Watch the video here:

In response to the backlash, Perez apologized via video on October 15. “I would like to apologize for my behavior in Japan,” she said, adding: “I didn’t mean to be rude. I’m really sorry for what I did without thinking. Please no further messages or comments. Thank you very much.”

Despite their public apology, the incident sparked discussion about influencers crossing cultural boundaries when searching for content. Several users questioned how far people are willing to go for viral fame, often ignoring the cultural characteristics of the places they visit.

“The people who come from outside really don’t know anything. If they break something, they just run away. I wish you would stop,” one user said, while another added: “I’ve seen some crazy people a few times but this is the first time I’ve seen something like this.”

“Tourists should understand that a shrine is something sacred,” said one user.

Several users even said that ignorance is no excuse when it comes to respecting sacred traditions.

With her apology, Maria del Mar “Marimar” Perez Banus will likely be more careful when creating content, but for some the damage is already done.