‘I start shaking’: 3-second clip that changed nurse’s entire life

When Aimee Connor posted a video of herself doing a salute before heading off to work, she had no idea it would end with death threats.

A three-second hand motion taken out of context has changed influencer Aimee Connor’s entire life.

When Ms Connor, 38, posted a video of herself, sharing a day in the life of being a nurse in NSW, she never expected to be accused of committing a crime.

In the clip, which has now been removed from social media but has been seen by news.com.au, Ms Connor is seen doing a military-style salute with her left hand in the mirror before heading off to work.

The 38-year-old, who edited the video herself, reviewed the footage before posting it and didn’t foresee any problems.

However, after she shared it, there were people that accused her of doing the Nazi salute. In January 2024 it became illegal in Australia to perform a Nazi salute in public, a gesture that is associated with Adolf Hitler and is performed by extending the right arm from the shoulder into the air.

The law was implemented off the back of the rise of anti-Semitism in Australia.

Ms Connor tearfully told news.com.au that when she posted that clip she only saw a “military salute” and never thought people would chop up the video and screengrab the moment her arm was highest in the air.

From there, online, people were doctoring the clip and reversing the order of the salute, so it looked more and more like a Nazi salute.

“It was taken out of context. People were reversing it and playing it backwards, so it looked like the opposite of how I did it,” she said.

Amiee Connor said the video has been taken out of context. Picture: TikTok/aims.lc

Ms Connor was shaking when she addressed what has happened online. Picture: TikTok/aims.lc

Ms Connor said that, when she sees the altered images online, or just a screenshot of a brief moment where her arm is in the air, she understands why people could get the wrong impression.

“I see the images and I’m scared of it. The screenshot terrifies me. I’m having nightmares because that is not me, and that is not what I was doing,” she said.

“When I see it in my head I start shaking.”

Ms Connor’s work was contacted, and she was “stood down” while the matter was being investigated. The police were also contacted to investigate.

“The nursing board were told because it is illegal, they reported it to the police, and the police asked me for the full video,” she said.

Ms Connor claimed that the “salute has been cleared” by the police and the nursing board and said the only reason she’s not able to return to work is that she violated social media policies by filming herself and co-workers at work.

NSW Police confirmed to news.com.au that officers attached to Wollongong Police District commenced an investigation after reports of an offensive video posted to a social media site on Thursday 17 April 2024.

Following inquiries, no further police action is expected.

Margaret Martin, the chief executive of Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Heath Distract told news.com.au they aware of a TikTok post made by a casual nurse.

“We are also aware the nurse has apologised and the post removed. The Local Health District is now investigating the matter in line with the NSW Health Code of Conduct and Social Media Policy.

“The nurse will not be rostered for any further shifts while the investigation is underway.

“ISLHD is committed to fostering an environment of respect and inclusivity. We are proud to provide safe, compassionate and high-quality care to all people across the diverse communities we serve.”

Ms Connor said she wants to make it clear she was doing a soldier style salute. Picture: TikTok/aims.lc

She's been so anxious since the video went viral. Picture: Supplied

Ms Connor also posted an apology on social media, saying she would never condone hatred of any kind and was horrified that the video had caused offence.

“I want to be absolutely clear that was never my intention, and I do not in any way support or condone hate or extremism of any kind,” she said.

The nurse said that, after the backlash, she reflected on her use of a military salute and wanted to apologise if that gesture offended anyone.

“I have taken some time to reflect and understand the deep significance a salute holds, especially to those in the armed forces,” she said.

Ms Connor said the reason she didn’t apologise to the Jewish community is because she didn’t do a Nazi salute, and she didn’t want to make an apology over something she didn’t do.

“I didn’t want it to sound like I was admitting to guilt,” she said.

“It started at my forehead which is how a traditional soldiers salute starts. I was apologising for that but I wasn’t doing a Nazi salute.

“It’d be so easy to take that out of context again, and then people would say, ‘why are you apologising to them if you didn’t do it?’”

The influencer has over a 100 million likes online and has never experienced something like this. Picture: Supplied

She said the whole experience has broken her heart. Picture: TikTok/aims.lc

Ms Connor is conscious that it is a difficult situation in which to figure out the correct response. Her images have been manipulated online and she’s lost complete control of the narrative, but she also doesn’t want anyone to believe she did a Nazi salute.

She has also now received death threats and has had to contact police. There is now an open investigation because she fears for her own personal safety.

“I can’t eat, I can’t sleep, and I’m constantly seeing that image in my head, and it scares me and terrifies me,” she said.

“I’ve built up a good reputation and I’m a good person.”

The 38-year-old said she’s anxious and fearful.

She can handle the everyday online trolling that comes with sharing your life online. She’s used to people calling her too skinny, questioning her cooking, or even judging her parenting, but this is just too much.

“It breaks my heart,” she said.

Ms Connor doesn’t think the people accusing her of a crime understand the “magnitude” of their actions.

“It went from a hand gesture to a police investigation,” she said.