{"id":33566,"date":"2026-03-05T00:34:37","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T16:34:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=33566"},"modified":"2026-03-05T00:34:37","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T16:34:37","slug":"spore-influencer-posts-apology-after-backlash-over-pun-using-names-of-iran-israel-on-social-media","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=33566","title":{"rendered":"S&#8217;pore influencer posts apology after backlash over pun using names of Iran &#038; Israel on social media"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<h2>Influencer Novita Lam posts jogging video with pun using names of Iran &amp; Israel<\/h2>\n<p>A Singapore-based influencer has drawn criticism from netizens after making a pun deemed insensitive on her social media platforms.<\/p>\n<p>Novita Lam, who has more than 400,000 Instagram followers and more than 125,000 TikTok followers, referenced countries involved in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_705899\" style=\"width: 1090px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-705899\" class=\"wp-image-705899 size-full lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/novita.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1351\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/novita.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/novita-480x600.jpg 480w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/novita-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/novita-120x150.jpg 120w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1080px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1080\/1351;\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-705899\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: @novitalam on Instagram<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3>Influencer makes corny pun as part of exercise post<\/h3>\n<p>The offending clip, shared via an Instagram Story and TikTok video, showed Ms Lam jogging in the Marina Bay area.<\/p>\n<p>Along with stats on how long and how fast she was jogging, she added the caption \u201cIran this, Israel that. IRAN 10km and the pain ISREAL\u201d \u2014 a play on words that used the names of the two countries.<\/p>\n<p>The corny pun was ostensibly used to highlight the tough nature of her exertions.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_705878\" style=\"width: 533px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-705878\" class=\"size-full wp-image-705878 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/novita-lam-israel-iran-post.webp\" alt=\"novita lam israel iran post\" width=\"523\" height=\"945\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/novita-lam-israel-iran-post.webp 523w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/novita-lam-israel-iran-post-332x600.webp 332w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/novita-lam-israel-iran-post-83x150.webp 83w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 523px) 100vw, 523px\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 523px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 523\/945;\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-705878\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: @novitalam on Instagram<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3>Several netizens outraged, others contribute more puns<\/h3>\n<p>But with <a href=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/singaporeans-middle-east\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">both sides currently locked in an escalating conflict<\/a>, many felt that the timing of the post was inappropriate.<\/p>\n<p>While both posts appeared to have been deleted as of Tuesday (3 March), numerous screenshots have surfaced online.<\/p>\n<p>Many <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@novita.lam?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">slammed her directly on her TikTok account<\/a>, criticising her \u201clack of self-awareness\u201d given the seriousness of the situation.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_705866\" style=\"width: 334px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-705866\" class=\"size-full wp-image-705866 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot2026-03-03175738-ezgif.com-censor.png\" alt=\"lack of self-awareness\" width=\"324\" height=\"105\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot2026-03-03175738-ezgif.com-censor.png 324w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot2026-03-03175738-ezgif.com-censor-150x49.png 150w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 324px) 100vw, 324px\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 324px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 324\/105;\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-705866\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: TikTok<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_705871\" style=\"width: 342px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-705871\" class=\"size-full wp-image-705871 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot2026-03-03180007-ezgif.com-censor.png\" alt=\"ignorant\" width=\"332\" height=\"110\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot2026-03-03180007-ezgif.com-censor.png 332w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot2026-03-03180007-ezgif.com-censor-150x50.png 150w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 332px) 100vw, 332px\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 332px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 332\/110;\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-705871\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: TikTok<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Comments have been turned off on some of her TikTok videos.<\/p>\n<p>Other netizens who posted on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/SingaporeRaw\/comments\/1rjsrrs\/influencer_novita_lam_with_a_disgusting_instagram\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Reddit<\/a> pointed out that there may be Singaporeans who are stuck in the Middle East, so using the conflict as a pun was insensitive.<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t<iframe id=\"answers-client-69a85a5bf067f\" class=\"answers-client\" src=\"\" height=\"500\" loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_705884\" style=\"width: 785px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-705884\" class=\"wp-image-705884 size-full lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot2026-03-03184337-ezgif.com-censor.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"775\" height=\"102\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot2026-03-03184337-ezgif.com-censor.png 775w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot2026-03-03184337-ezgif.com-censor-600x79.png 600w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot2026-03-03184337-ezgif.com-censor-150x20.png 150w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 775px) 100vw, 775px\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 775px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 775\/102;\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-705884\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: Reddit<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>However, other netizens felt that those who were offended by her post were overreacting.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_705873\" style=\"width: 738px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-705873\" class=\"size-full wp-image-705873 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot2026-03-03181945-ezgif.com-censor.png\" alt=\"netizens overreacting\" width=\"728\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot2026-03-03181945-ezgif.com-censor.png 728w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot2026-03-03181945-ezgif.com-censor-600x139.png 600w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot2026-03-03181945-ezgif.com-censor-150x35.png 150w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 728px) 100vw, 728px\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 728px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 728\/169;\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-705873\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: Reddit<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Some commenters, apparently inspired by her \u201cwit\u201d, even contributed their own country-related puns.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_705875\" style=\"width: 289px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-705875\" class=\"size-full wp-image-705875 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot2026-03-03182503-ezgif.com-censor.png\" alt=\"country-related puns\" width=\"279\" height=\"160\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot2026-03-03182503-ezgif.com-censor.png 279w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot2026-03-03182503-ezgif.com-censor-150x86.png 150w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 279px) 100vw, 279px\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 279px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 279\/160;\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-705875\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: Reddit<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3>Posts apology, promises to be more mindful<\/h3>\n<p>Ms Lam has since posted an apology on her Instagram story, and sincerely apologised for her \u201cinsensitive and hurtful\u201d post.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_705932\" style=\"width: 516px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-705932\" class=\"size-full wp-image-705932 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-04-093233.png\" alt=\"Novita Lam apology\" width=\"506\" height=\"859\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-04-093233.png 506w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-04-093233-353x600.png 353w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-04-093233-88x150.png 88w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 506px) 100vw, 506px\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 506px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 506\/859;\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-705932\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: @novitalam on Instagram<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cI removed it as soon as I realised my mistake,\u201d Ms Lam says, before apologising again.<\/p>\n<p>She also promises to be \u201cmore mindful moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>MS News <\/em>has reached out to Ms Lam for comments.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Also read: <a href=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/singaporeans-middle-east\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">S\u2019poreans advised to defer travel to Middle East as S\u2019pore \u2018regrets\u2019 strikes on Iran &amp; retaliatory strikes<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"VNSAllNqOI\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/singaporeans-middle-east\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">S\u2019poreans advised to defer travel to Middle East as S\u2019pore \u2018regrets\u2019 strikes on Iran &amp; retaliatory strikes<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"\u201cS\u2019poreans advised to defer travel to Middle East as S\u2019pore \u2018regrets\u2019 strikes on Iran &amp; retaliatory strikes\u201d \u2014 MS News - Independent News For Singaporeans\" src=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/singaporeans-middle-east\/embed\/#?secret=WDpokPtIVB#?secret=VNSAllNqOI\" data-secret=\"VNSAllNqOI\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><em>Have news you must share? Get in touch with us via email at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/influencer-iran-israel\/mailto:news@mustsharenews.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news@mustsharenews.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Featured image adapted from @novita.lam on Lemon8 and @novitalam on Instagram<\/em><\/p>\n<p><!-- CONTENT END 1 --><\/p><\/div>\n<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js?ver=6.8.3#xfbml=1&amp;version=v3.2\" id=\"facebook-js\"><\/script><script>\n!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n{if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\nn.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\nif(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\nn.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\nt.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\ns.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,'script',\n'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\nfbq('init', '1213643350275810');\nfbq('track', 'PageView');\n<\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/influencer-iran-israel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article At Source <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Influencer Novita Lam posts jogging video with pun using names of Iran &amp; Israel A Singapore-based influencer has drawn criticism from netizens after making a&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":33567,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2611],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33566","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buzz-headlines","wpcat-2611-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33566","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=33566"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33566\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/33567"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=33566"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=33566"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=33566"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}