Smiling Auschwitz Selfie Earns Teen Death Threats

If you’re going to take a selfie at Auschwitz, you probably shouldn’t be smiling. The internet was outraged when a young woman named Breanna posted a smiling selfie at the infamous concentration camp on Twitter.

The message also including a smiling photo of Breanna and a smiling emoticon. It was the emoticon that upset people the most.

Selfie in the Auschwitz Concentration Camp pic.twitter.com/cPVpGl3Hpb

— Princess Breanna (@PrincessBMM) June 20, 2014

The photo was quickly met with anger from the online community. People just couldn’t understand how she could smile in that photo.

@PrincessBMM How can you be happy and smile in this pic? Do you not understand the horrors and murders that happened here? I'd be crying.

— Tara Simpson (@TeighLeigh) July 8, 2014

@PrincessBMM Incredibly disrespectful.

— Jamie Wroe (@jamiethelanky) July 20, 2014

@simotrfc @PrincessBMM What a fucking idiot.

— Tom (@TomLFC22) July 20, 2014

Breanna defended herself saying that she completely understood the history of Auschwitz and that she wasn’t making light of what happened there.

@TeighLeigh yeah, I do understand what happened there. I studied it for years with my dad and we always planned to visit there but he died

— Princess Breanna (@PrincessBMM) July 8, 2014

Still, people were angry. The photo picked up steam on websites like Tumblr, Facebook and Twitter and eventually people started sending Breanna death threats.

Thankfully, the internet came to its senses and several people jumped to Breanna’s defense.

@PrincessBMM You're smiling…in a picture. Wtf is the big deal? Was there a sign that said 'No Smiling'? You're on holiday for fucks sake!

— Wendy Cloutman (@ZombieWendy) July 20, 2014

@PrincessBMM so sorry for the horrible things that people have said to you. People can be so cruel. Hold your head up! Your dad is smiling

— jadey (@TheGreenStone) July 20, 2014