Instagram Influencer Defends Impromptu Photoshoot In Front Of Father’s Open Casket

MacMcCannTX/Twitter

October 28, 2021, 7:43 am

An Instagram influencer is facing off with the haters after she received a wave of criticism for posing in front of her father’s open casket for the ‘gram.

Featured Video
Hide

Jayne Rivera’s father, Jose, reportedly died earlier this month at the age of 56. The 20-year-old influencer paid tribute to him on her social media, writing: “Butterfly fly away. Rip Papi you were my bestfriend. A life well lived.”

She also shared photos that left some folks feeling uncomfortable with the whole situation.

Advertisement
Hide

It isn’t necessarily uncommon to take photos with a casket, as some folks have pointed out, but it may have been the way Rivera posed — as if she were just in front of a pretty mural or showing off her outfit of the day — that didn’t sit well with people.

The kind of thinking that gets you places in this world.

— The Humble Peasant (@aHumblePeasant) October 26, 2021

Swipe up and and use code Jayne20 at checkout for 20% off

— Casey Hohman (@caseyhohman) October 27, 2021

I took a photo of my cat when he died surrounded by flowers in the box before he was buried- but l didn’t post it anywhere and l didn’t take hot posed photos in front of his dead body and post it on Instagram lmao

— PK (@peirslouise) October 26, 2021

Advertisement
Hide

Some just really piled on.

Damn just learnt about the word sartorial

— CaramelSwag (@MaxoDream) October 27, 2021

I respect this more

— Natalie Whittingham Burrell (@natlawyerchic) October 26, 2021

Lol @ America thinking any part of it is “normal”

— Couch Nish (@CouchNish) October 28, 2021

But others were more frustrated with people judging the way someone else grieves, and suggested everyone just lay off.

Also like, idk. I never cry or am sad at the funeral. It doesn’t usually hit me then. Grief is weird. I wish people would understand that and leave people be instead of being judgy pricks about it.

— The Reylo Agenda (@notherroommate) October 27, 2021

since a lot of folks commenting on this have clearly never been outside their comfort zone, not all communities or social norms are the same, and just because you have never heard of something doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. i’d also suggest you read or travel more.

— dinodoode (@dinodoodeTV) October 27, 2021

Advertisement
Hide

My super-hot take is that when your parent dies, you’re allowed to process it however the fuck you need to, and judging a stranger because they’re grieving “wrong” is uhhhh kinda gross. I already regret weighing in on this. Please continue this conversation without me. Or don’t! https://t.co/cDIHl03du9

— Raphael Bob-Waksberg (@RaphaelBW) October 26, 2021

Why does this matter at all?

If a filmmaker did a tribute to their dead relative in film form no one would care.

If an artist painted a picture for their dead relative and displayed it at the funeral no one would care.

Performatively cruel boomer mindset nonsense. https://t.co/zfwkSruW20

— ☿ Demon Mama ☿ (@DemonMamaReal) October 26, 2021

Contrarian take: disturbingly light hearted, even narcissistic celebrations of lost loved ones are lindy. Maybe we’re just changing how we mourn? https://t.co/ega0jUgx7j

— Katherine Dee (@default_friend) October 26, 2021

Advertisement
Hide

As for Rivera, she defended her photos to NBC News, saying she wanted to let her followers know that her father, who had been in some of her content, had died.

“Everyone handles the loss of a loved one in their own ways; some are more traditional while others might come across as taboo,” she said. “I have worked extremely hard for eight long years building my audience. People from the outside judge a book by its cover without stopping to understand the intentions of underlying meanings of the book.”

Rivera says her Instagram account has since been disabled by the company “with no reason given.”

Share this article

*First Published: October 28, 2021, 7:43 am