A Haitian TikToker who goes by the name Shrose has sparked a heated online debate after criticising what she described as minimal media coverage of the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa in Haiti. The tropical storm, which left dozens dead and entire communities submerged, has affected parts of the country, yet, according to Shrose, much of the world’s attention remains elsewhere.
In a viral video, she expressed deep frustration at the lack of visibility for her homeland’s suffering. “Hurricane Melissa affected Haiti as well… especially small towns. There are cars underneath the ground; that’s how bad it is,” she said, adding that her hometown recorded a high death toll. “I don’t think it’s getting enough coverage; I don’t think it’s spoken about enough,” she continued, stressing that the storm has impacted multiple regions, not just one island.
However, her remarks quickly drew backlash from many Jamaican users, who accused her of turning a regional tragedy into a competition for attention. Commenters flooded her post, with one user writing, “Every minute we help Haiti one time, Jamaica want help is a problem,” while another added, “You can raise awareness for Haiti without the comparison.”
Others defended her, saying her point about under-representation was valid but poorly received amid Jamaica’s own crisis. Still, a few voices tried to bridge the tension, with one commenter writing, “We should be praying for all the islands, not arguing over attention.”
In a follow-up video, Shrose clarified her statements, saying her intent was never to compare the two nations’ suffering. Instead, she emphasised that media outlets often focus more heavily on Jamaica because of its visibility as a major tourist destination. “It’s no one else’s fault that Haiti is lacking media coverage,” she explained. She said the issue is that one place is getting “more coverage than others being impacted on the same level, if not worse.”
She reaffirmed that her comments came from concern, not competition. “The conversation was that other humans are being impacted by a natural disaster as well,” she added.
Meanwhile, Haiti’s government confirmed that 43 people have died and 13 remain missing following Hurricane Melissa. Dozens of communities remain isolated by floodwaters, and officials warn of worsening conditions, including shortages of clean water and widespread agricultural losses.
