‘We need to stop yelling at people on the internet for not making their stance clear’: Maria Thattil

Ex Miss Universe Australia Maria Thattil has called for an end to online “yelling” at people for not taking a firm stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict, after being abused “for not speaking up”.

Former Miss Universe Australia Maria Thattil has called for a stop to online “yelling” at people for not taking a firm stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict, after being abused herself “for not speaking up”.

The Melbourne beauty queen, who is of Indian heritage, took to Instagram to say much of what was being shared on the conflict via social media was “radicalised opinion without having all the facts and not balanced and not nuanced”.

Thattil said she had received many messages from followers telling her to share her opinion on the deadly war in the Middle East but had not felt informed enough and ready to do so.

She said when she found out her friend had died this week, she had someone “just abusing me for not speaking up”.

Maria Thattil has hit back at “yelling” online over Israel. Picture: Instagram

She says she was “quiet” on the issue as she tried to learn more. Picture: Instagram

Thattil says she discovered this week her friend had died. Picture: David Swift

“I think one thing we need to do is stop yelling at people on the internet for not making their stance clear, like ‘whose side are you on’, like, none of that is conducive to a productive discussion,” Thattil said.

“I’ve been quiet because I’ve also been trying to talk to friends who are Jewish people, who are Palestinian people, who are tied to what is going on and listen to them and learn from them before I get on and give an opinion,” she said.

“I am never going to be someone who just gets on and says something for the sake of saying ‘well, I did it’. It’s the equivalent of putting a black tile up on your profile to show that you’ve weighed in on Black Lives Matter but not actually doing any work to understand what’s going on.”

Maria’s post comes shortly after making her romance Instagram official with AFLW star Moana Hope.

Maria Thattil and Moana Hope share a tender moment. Picture: Supplied

Thattil and Hope at the opening night of ‘Death Of A Salesman’. Picture: Getty

She also this week opened up on her heartache over the shock death of comedian Cal Wilson.

“My friend. You were light. The kindest soul. You knew what mattered in life and you cherished it. A fierce mother, wife, friend, performer and an effervescent person. Larger than life, in fact. I’m so grateful the universe gave me the gift of your friendship. Thank you for everything you taught me and your love. My heart is with your family. Vale Cal Wilson. You will be missed,” Thattil said, sharing a photo of them together.

Last month she also revealed a horrifying experience she had endured as a teenager, when a topless photo was shared around a Melbourne high school.

The model and influencer spoke about the ordeal on her podcast the Maria Thattil Show, revealing she sent a nude picture to a boy who leaked it around his school.

“I was 14 when a topless photo I sent one boy ended up being circulated around his school and to girls at my school,” she said.

“He circulated it to everyone and I came into school and I remember they were like ‘Everyone knows what you have done, everyone knows that you have said, we have all seen the picture’.”

Thattil said she was slut shamed after the boy lied about her sleeping with him.

“I remember that same person fabricated that I had been involved with him sexually when I hadn’t and I remember coming into school and they all said ‘We’ve heard what you have done’,” she said.

“I remember my friends at the time, the advice that they gave me was like ‘Everyone thinks you’re a slut and you’re just going to have to prove you’re not through your actions’.”