en.malanginspirasi.com – Indonesian actress, singer, and public figure Maudy Ayunda has drawn sharp criticism online after releasing a YouTube video titled “mindfulness in the age of bad news.”
In the roughly 14-minute clip, uploaded in late August, Ayunda discusses feeling overwhelmed by constant negative headlines—ranging from political issues and natural disasters to economic struggles—and shares personal strategies for protecting mental health, including limiting exposure to distressing information.
She acknowledges the heartbreaking nature of recent events and offers prayers for people affected in NTT and Kalimantan, while emphasizing that feeling overloaded is normal given how modern media floods people with more bad news than the human brain evolved to process.
The advice has sparked backlash from many Indonesian netizens, who argue it comes across as tone-deaf amid ongoing national hardships, as this topic is trending on X.
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Thick haze from forest and land fires continues to blanket parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan, triggering widespread respiratory illnesses, school closures, and reported deaths.
At the same time, the government’s free nutritious meals program (Makan Bergizi Gratis) has been linked to repeated mass food-poisoning incidents affecting tens of thousands of students across multiple provinces.
Critics say advising people to curb “bad news” ignores the lived reality of those breathing toxic smoke daily, caring for sick children, queuing for fuel amid shortages, or facing layoffs and rising living costs.
Comments on the video and social media platforms accuse Ayunda of privilege and urge her to remain grounded and use her platform to highlight real struggles rather than promote digital detox
Supporters, however, defend her right to set personal boundaries and discuss mental health.
They note that acknowledging overwhelm does not mean indifference, and that public figures are also entitled to protect their well-being.
Some viewers who watched the full video said her message was about balancing care with self-preservation, not shutting out reality entirely.
The debate reflects broader tensions in Indonesia over how celebrities and influencers should respond during overlapping crises.
Ayunda has not issued a formal public response to the latest wave of criticism as of this report
