en.malanginspirasi.com – Indonesian actress, singer, and public figure Maudy Ayunda has issued an apology after her YouTube video on practicing mindfulness amid constant negative news drew widespread criticism for being out of touch.
In a pinned comment on the video “Mindfulness in the Age of Bad News” (originally uploaded on August 21), Ayunda responded to the backlash on Sunday, September 13. She acknowledged a key shortcoming in her original message.
“Being able to step away from the news is itself a privilege. Tidak semua orang punya pilihan itu, terutama ketika apa yang terjadi berdampak langsung pada kehidupan, keluarga, pekerjaan, atau komunitasnya. Aku minta maaf karena bagian ini belum cukup aku refleksikan di videonya,” she wrote.
Also Read:
Maudy Ayunda Faces Backlash Over Mindfulness Video Amid Indonesian Crises
Ayunda explained that the video was meant as a personal reflection on how she tries to stay caring while protecting her own mental health as someone who tends to overthink.
She stressed that she never intended for mindfulness to become an excuse for indifference or for pretending everything is fine.
“Aku sama sekali tidak ingin mindfulness menjadi alasan untuk tidak peduli atau menjauh dari realita yang ada. Apalagi ajakan untuk berdiam diri, ataupun melihat seolah keadaan baik-baik saja. Malah, mindfulness ini membuat aku bisa melihat sebab akibat secara jelas, membantu kita tetap peduli dan hadir, dan tetap peka terhadap apa yang dirasakan mereka yang terdampak (I didn’t tend to be mindfulness for being indifferent about the reality. Particularly asking people to remain silent while looking at things as things were doing well. Through being mindfulness, I can see things clearly while helping ourselves to remain caring for others while having a sympathy for those who suffer),” she added.
She closed by thanking viewers for their feedback.
“Terima kasih untuk teman-teman yang sudah meluangkan waktunya untuk mengingatkanku dan menambahkan perspektif menjadi lebih luas dan lebih dalam. Aku dengar dan aku hargai feedbacknya (thank you for all who had spent time to remind and add broader perspective). I’m listening and learning.”
The original video discussed feeling overwhelmed by continuous bad news—ranging from natural disasters and forest-fire haze to economic pressures and policy issues—and offered personal strategies for limiting exposure to protect mental health.
Critics argued the advice overlooked the reality faced by many Indonesians currently dealing with thick haze from forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan, respiratory illnesses, and mass food-poisoning cases linked to the free nutritious meals program (MBG).
While some netizens accepted the apology as a sign of growth, others felt it still carried a defensive tone.
Discussions online also revisited her status as an LPDP scholarship recipient and her privileged background.
As of Monday, Ayunda has not released any further official statements beyond the YouTube comment.
The episode continues to fuel broader conversations about privilege, mental health, and the responsibilities of public figures during national crises.
