American porn star Whitney Wright's Iran visit ignites controversy amidst anti-Israel stance

The 32-year-old Wright is known not only for her work in the adult film industry but also for her explicit pro-Palestinian stance. She frequently uses her social media platforms to share provocative and risqué photos alongside anti-Israel posts focused mainly on Israel's intrusion of the Gaza Strip.

"Israel is absolute evil and filth" is what she wrote on Twitter in October.

Wright's visit to Iran has stirred up even more controversy. Her visit seems particularly provocative given Iran's oppression of women and blanket ban on pornography, inviting backlash from Iranian internet users who believe she was invited by the regime for propagandistic purposes.

"Whitney Wright, American porn star, is in Iran, my birth country, where women are stoned for simply showing hair and being true to themselves," tweeted Iranian journalist and activist, Masih Alinejad.

Please note that in Iran, any woman who is seen publicly without a hijab (head covering) is liable to corporal punishment, which often severely impairs health. In some extreme cases, the punishment has led to death. In 2022, the killing of Mahsa Amini sent shockwaves around the world.

The unexpected visit by the American starlet drew attention from Nasser Kanaani, the spokesperson for the Iranian foreign ministry.

"U.S. citizens do not face obstacles in travelling to the Islamic Republic of Iran. I personally am not aware of this matter," mentioned Kanaani.

In the wake of the backlash, Wright defended herself on one of her posts. "Just because I shared photos from my trip to Iran does not imply that I support Iranian propaganda. I shared exhibits from a relatively unknown museum. This does not constitute support for any kind of government," she wrote.

Following the storm of controversy, Wright left Iran. According to reports in the American media, the star is still travelling around the Middle East. It is unofficially reported that she is currently in Iraq.