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Swimwear Model Sparks Outrage With ‘Tone Deaf’ Posts Shortly After Bondi Beach Attack
Swimwear model with long dark hair holding a cup inside a cafe, facing camera with a neutral expression.

Swimwear Model Sparks Outrage With ‘Tone Deaf’ Posts Shortly After Bondi Beach Attack

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A swimwear model and business owner is being dragged online for what many described as “tone deaf” social media posts

Known online as Raylee Cherry and the Australian face of the brand OMRAY, the model was blasted after she allegedly called out Australian men for having “no b*lls” to stand up for the country. 

The controversy further erupted after the model suggested that “everyone’s time will come” following the tragedy that left 15 people dead and dozens injured.

Highlights
  • A swimwear model sparked backlash after sharing Instagram posts many called “tone deaf” following the deadly Bondi Beach attack.
  • The controversy centered on her remark that “everyone’s time will come,” which critics said minimized the loss of life.
  • Her comments about Bondi hero Ahmed al Ahmed’s ethnicity fueled further outrage online.
  • The model later responded to Daily Mail, insisting her words were misunderstood.

The Bondi Beach attack took place on December 14, 2025, at 6:47pm during a Hanukkah celebration when a father-son duo opened fire on a crowded beachfront gathering.

The model’s since-deleted Instagram stories quickly triggered backlash as several critics slammed her for minimizing the loss of life and using the adversity to draw attention to herself.

RELATED:

    Swimwear model’s Instagram posts drew backlash after Bondi Beach attack

    Swimwear model in a black plunging outfit standing outside a building, sparking outrage with tone deaf posts.

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    Image credits: rayleecherry

    Shortly after the incident, Cherry shared several stories on her Instagram revealing she nearly escaped the harm. 

    She wrote, “I am safe everyone and left the markets a while ago thank you so much for all the love and messages!”

    She continued, “May God protect us all, when your time will come it will come and that’s part of life… Trust your destiny.”

    Swimwear model taking mirror selfie in black suit and cargo shorts, sparking outrage with tone deaf posts after Bondi Beach attack.

    Swimwear model taking mirror selfie in black suit and cargo shorts, sparking outrage with tone deaf posts after Bondi Beach attack.

    Image credits: rayleecherry

    Her comments immediately struck a nerve, especially after reports revealed that there were children among the victims.

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    After being heavily attacked on social media, Cherry doubled down later, writing, “I’ve received so many hate messages in the past 24 hours, guess what, I will keep sharing whatever I want to share if you not happy LEAVE!!!”

    Screenshot of a swimwear model’s controversial social media post sparking outrage after Bondi Beach attack.

    Screenshot of a swimwear model’s controversial social media post sparking outrage after Bondi Beach attack.

    Image credits: rayleecherry

    Addressing the victims directly, she said, “I repeat multiple lives where taken during this attack this includes europeans, latinos, jewish, muslims, christians, to me you are just a HUMAN I do not GIVE A DAMN F*** ABOUT YOUR RELIGION.”

    Cherry’s comments on Bondi Hero’s ethnicity sparked more anger

    Swimwear model in a beach setting, sparking outrage with tone deaf posts after Bondi Beach attack incident.

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    Cherry’s posts drew even more scrutiny after she addressed the ethnicity of Bondi hero Ahmed al Ahmed. The 43-year-old Syrian-Australian shopkeeper and father of two saved countless lives after disarming one of the attackers.

    Swimwear model posing by pool at night wearing white dress and bucket hat amid controversy over tone deaf posts.

    Image credits: rayleecherry

    She wrote, “I knew the HERO was a lebbo as NO AUSTRALIAN can have the ba**s to do what he did,” explaining that his appearance reminded her of her father.

    “Anyway love you Ahmed,” she said.

    Social media post criticizing a swimwear model’s tone deaf comments after the Bondi Beach attack controversy.

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    Instagram story post by swimwear model responding to outrage with tone deaf posts after Bondi Beach attack, street scene background.

    Instagram story post by swimwear model responding to outrage with tone deaf posts after Bondi Beach attack, street scene background.

    Image credits: rayleecherry

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    Her remark was widely condemned as several pointed out that Ahmed al Ahmed is an Australian citizen, and her comment undermined the country’s multicultural identity.

    Addressing the criticism, Cherry responded, “If you think considering every life as equal makes me extremist, maybe you are no different than the terrorists!”

    Netizens called out Cherry’s posts as “tone deaf”

    Swimwear model reacting online, sparking outrage with tone deaf posts after controversial Bondi Beach incident.

    Social media users didn’t hold back from calling Cherry out. One commenter said, “Those people are so tone deaf, it’s not even funny.”

    Another pushed back against her comments about Australians:

    “‘Australians wouldn’t have the b**ls’ — okay let’s not forget all the Australian heroes who HAVE stepped in. You don’t need to discredit prior heroes to give credit to current ones.”

    Man with bandaged arm lying in hospital bed recovering after Bondi Beach attack, relating to swimwear model controversy.

    Image credits: X

    As Bored Panda previously reported, for Al-Ahmed, the cost of his bravery has been devastating.  According to his lawyer, his injuries could end up costing him his arm.

    “He’s having multiple surgeries, he’s got five g*nsh*t wounds. It’s a serious injury, far more serious than has been reported,” Issa told The Australian.

    “At this stage, he says he has no feeling in his arm. I’m no medical doctor, but he said to me that it seems like one of the bullets may have hit a nerve.”

    Swimwear model with curly hair taking a low-light selfie, sparking outrage with tone deaf posts after Bondi Beach attack.

    Image credits: rayleecherry

    One more netizen added, “She says we are all equal but ‘knew’ the hero was leb because he couldn’t possibly be Australian? We are a multicultural society and he has lived here for years!”

    Others accused Cherry of promoting her brand in the wake of a tragedy, with one claiming her posts “didn’t sit right”.

    Cherry responded to the coverage, claiming she had received d**th threats

    Swimwear model responds to outrage over tone deaf posts after Bondi Beach attack with apology and message of unity.

    Image credits: rayleecherry

    The backlash got so fierce that Cherry was forced to reply not only to her detractors, but also to the Daily Mail, who were among the first to make her story go viral.

    She wrote, “I still cannot believe this is happening and how someone can say all these atrocities about me. All this to affect my small business and hurt me… I have been receiving d**th threats, hundreds of d**th threats.”

    Swimwear model with curly hair responding emotionally amid outrage over tone deaf posts after Bondi Beach attack.

    Image credits: rayleecherry

    Swimwear model sitting in café holding a cup with a smoothie on the table, sparking outrage with tone deaf posts.

    Image credits: rayleecherry

    She went on to apologize to readers and insisted that her words were taken out of context. Cherry explained, “I am French, and English is my second language. When I said ‘when your time will come it will come,’ I was talking about ME.”

    Cherry claimed she was driving along Campbell Parade minutes before the attack and was expressing the shock.

    Young woman with curly hair holding her head, expressing distress after Bondi Beach attack controversy involving swimwear model.

    Image credits: rayleecherry

    She added, “That’s what I meant. People that genuinely know me already know this is all false.”

    In another post where she highlighted the Daily Mail’s article, she accused the publication of fueling hate. She added, “I’m guessing your aim was for me to d*e? Because that’s all I’m seeing… Yeah, you are winning.”

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    Samridhi Goel

    Samridhi Goel

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

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    This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

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    Samridhi Goel

    Samridhi Goel

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

    What do you think ?
    Emilu
    Community Member
    10 hours ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm all for posting in a language that isn't necessarily your first (and am jelly of people that can speak more than one language! *Jellywibble*), but don't blame people for misconstruing what you actually *said* because you said it in your secondary, tertiary etc language. If you're that concerned about how you'll be understood and you're genuinely not sure, maybe check with a native speaker before you post?? Because, reading her initial comments, I'd absolutely believe that she was de-valuing the loss of fifteen lives, including that of a ten year old, by saying essentially "welp, it was your time anyways!" which is obviously abhorrent. I'm not a person to jump to net-threats by any means, but I could understand people that are that incensed, particularly if they lost somebody.

    Calunii
    Community Member
    7 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    She went from "I said what I said, deal with it!" to "I AM FRENCH" real quick.

    Zoe Vokes
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Lebanese person I assumed. From Lebanon. I have no idea if that is something people say or she made that up

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    Emilu
    Community Member
    10 hours ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm all for posting in a language that isn't necessarily your first (and am jelly of people that can speak more than one language! *Jellywibble*), but don't blame people for misconstruing what you actually *said* because you said it in your secondary, tertiary etc language. If you're that concerned about how you'll be understood and you're genuinely not sure, maybe check with a native speaker before you post?? Because, reading her initial comments, I'd absolutely believe that she was de-valuing the loss of fifteen lives, including that of a ten year old, by saying essentially "welp, it was your time anyways!" which is obviously abhorrent. I'm not a person to jump to net-threats by any means, but I could understand people that are that incensed, particularly if they lost somebody.

    Calunii
    Community Member
    7 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    She went from "I said what I said, deal with it!" to "I AM FRENCH" real quick.

    Zoe Vokes
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Lebanese person I assumed. From Lebanon. I have no idea if that is something people say or she made that up

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