Former Bachelorette Elly Miles has been accused of hypocrisy after posting contradicting videos about Australia Day to social media.
In a piece to camera that was shared on her Instagram Stories, the 26-year-old reality star spoke out about the controversial public holiday and why she supports changing the date due as it is a day of suffering and mourning for First Nations people.
“It would just be so good if we could change the date. I would love so much for everybody in Australia to be able to celebrate Australia on a day that isn’t severely traumatic and awful for our Indigenous cultures,” the 2020 Bachelorette said in the clip.
“I encourage everyone to get around that and if you feel like you don’t know enough information, have a conversation, start a conversation. That’s how my view was changed because growing up I had celebrated but I just didn’t know any better and it took me to have conversations with some Indigenous friends and work colleagues for me to truly understand the meaning of the day for Indigenous culture and it’s not good.”
Elly also shared an image from an Invasion Day protest in what appears to be her hometown of Newcastle.
However just hours later, Elly shared a series of photos and images of herself and friends attending a pool party.
The posts have since been deleted, but the reality star’s followers have been leaving messages calling her out for her contradictory posts on her latest Instagram post.
“’Growing up I had celebrated Australia Day, because I did not know any better and it took me to have some conversations with Indigenous friends and work colleges to truly understand the meaning of the day and the Indigenous culture, and it’s not good’ then 3 hours later at a pool party celebrating,” one noted.
“Very conflicting messages you’re sending out today.. Change the date or continue to have bogan p*** ups??” questioned another.
“She really had us in the first half hey hope you enjoyed your invasion day party ! Hope the rally didn’t take up too much of your day xx #alwayswasalwayswillbe,” penned a third.
Others even questioned whether Elly had in fact attended the Invasion Day protest.
“One quick photo at the protest today – were you even there? Then off to a big party to celebrate Australia Day, your manager must have reminded you to give some lip service and a quick pic and then off to get blind and party. Performative influencers don’t worry it doesn’t go unnoticed,” one wrote.
Elly isn’t the only celebrity to face backlash for celebrating Australia Day.
Singer and former Voice coach Delta Goodrem was criticised when she shared a series of images from her rehearsals for the 2021 Australia Day celebrations at the Sydney Opera House.
“Disappointing to see you supporting a day that persecutes our Indigenous population by its mere existence,” one of Delta’s followers wrote beneath her post.
“Tomorrow ought to be a National day of mourning, not a celebration. Sad you can’t see the significance for First Nations people and would support a day of celebration when it commemorates the genocide of thousands of Indigenous people and the destruction of an ancient culture and people. #changethedate,” another remarked.
UPDATE: Elly has shared a message of apology to her fans admitting that she had a “complete lapse of judgement.”
“To answer people’s comments from yesterday, there is nothing else I can say in this situation other than, ‘I am sorry.’ I had a complete lapse of judgement and have a lot of regret for my actions. I sincerely apologise for upsetting anyone,” she wrote in a typed statement shared to her Instagram Stories.
“I stand by my attendance at the Change The Date protest and feel that it is an incredibly important issue. I truly wasn’t being insincere with my attendance. I know how it looks, we all make mistakes – I made one yesterday and all I can say once again, from the bottom of my heart is that I am truly sorry. x”
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