Indonesian singer Syahrini visited Europe, and one of the countries she visited, was Germany.
Just like pretty much everyone else, she documented her trip and shared her joy to her social media account. But soon after doing that, the star quickly found herself at the center of an international controversy.
This happens because she was taking photos and videos at the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin.
The memorial, officially known as the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, is a solemn site dedicated to the memory of the six million Jews who were killed during the Holocaust.
While taking photos and videos is not forbidden, Syahrini caught herself in a controversy for posing on the concrete slabs that make up the memorial.
One particular video, which she shared on her Instagram account, featured her walking through the memorial with a caption that many found to be insensitive and disrespectful to the memory of the Holocaust victims.
The Holocaust Memorial is designed by American architect Peter Eisenman and consists of 2,711 concrete slabs of varying heights arranged in a grid pattern.
It is intended to be a place of reflection and remembrance, not for casual or disrespectful photography.
And here, her actions, which included posing on the concrete slabs of the memorial and making a video with a caption that many found insensitive, drew significant criticisms.
The incident was widely covered by media outlets, within Indonesia and also internationally, and that the backlash was also not limited to Indonesia because international audiences also expressed their disapproval.
The reaction to her posts was swift and overwhelmingly negative.
Many of her followers and the general public criticized her for what they perceived as a lack of respect for the solemnity of the site.
Critics pointed out that the Holocaust Memorial is a place for reflection and remembrance, not for casual photography. The controversy highlighted the importance of cultural sensitivity and respect when visiting historical sites.
Syahrini was in Europe for a series of personal and professional engagements, and Berlin was one of her destinations beside several major European cities.
Due to her superstar status, she was accompanied by her entourage, which includes her personal assistants and photographers.
These individuals often help her capture and share moments from her travels on social media.
In response to the criticism, Syahrini removed the offending posts from her social media accounts and issued an apology.
She expressed regret for her actions and acknowledged the importance of understanding and respecting the significance of such memorials.
The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, also known as the Holocaust Memorial, is a memorial is located on Cora-Berliner-Straße, located one block south of the Brandenburg Gate, in the Mitte neighborhood.
Made as a memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust, it was designed by architect Peter Eisenman and Buro Happold.
The 1.9-hectare site covered with 2,711 concrete slabs or "stelae", arranged in a grid pattern on a sloping field, organized in rows. The site also has an attached underground "Place of Information," where the names of approximately 3 million Jewish Holocaust victims, were obtained from the Israeli museum Yad Vashem.
Building began on 1 April 2003, and was finished on 15 December 2004.
It was inaugurated on 10 May 2005, sixty years after the end of World War II in Europe, and opened to the public two days later.
Syahrini is not the first, nor she is the last, to engage in inappropriate behavior at a memorial site.
There have been numerous incidents of vandalism, including graffiti, swastikas, anti-Semitic slogans, urination, yoga poses, and other disrespectful acts.