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Tourist Takes Smiling Selfie From East Village Explosion Site
By
Jen Carlson
Published Mar 29, 2015
Modified Sep 11, 2018
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Mar 29, 2015
Modified Sep 11, 2018
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The photo of 7 women cheerfully taking a selfie on 2nd Avenue—as buildings crumble and burn behind them, and victims of the explosion remain missing—was almost unbelievable. The selfie stick, the beaming smiles... surely this was Photoshopped. It wasn't. The very real photo quickly spread online yesterday, and this morning the NY Post has put the young women on their cover, with the words: VILLAGE IDIOTS.
Things are not going so good if the NY Post is, quite rightfully, calling you "tasteless" and "heartless."
This wasn't the only selfie moment that surfaced. Christina Freundlich also took a selfie while standing in front of the tragic disaster site—she's flashing a smile, a peace sign, and notes in her caption that this is the "scene of the accident."
She posted the photo to her Instagram yesterday, but deleted it sometime around 9 a.m. EST today.
The Post also notes that the East Village explosion site has become "a tourist attraction," with some nearby building residents putting up signs. One reads, "Gawkers: Please keep off our stoop. Gawk from the street," and another: "This is a tragedy. Not a Tourist Attraction. Show Some Respect."
To restore your faith in humanity, let's revisit the below video, which captures the chaotic scene moments after the explosion on March 26th. It shows New Yorkers rushing to help those in the buildings before emergency crews arrived.
The explosion, which took place at 2nd Avenue near 7th Street, took down three buildings (119, 121 and 123 Second Avenue), injured dozens, and displaced residents and commercial businesses; Nicholas Figueroa, 23, and Moises Ismael Locón Yac, 27, remain missing.
UPDATE: Christina Freundlich emailed The Des Moines Register, saying she is "deeply sorry for my careless and distasteful post. It was inconsiderate to those hurt in the crash and to the city of New York. What happened last week in the East Village is not to be taken lightly and I regret my course of action."
If you’re interested in donating money to help those affected by the East Village explosion, the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City is accepting donations. Checks should be made out to the NYC Mayor's Fund with a note that they are earmarked for the East Village Collapse. In kind donations are not being accepted at this time.
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Christina Freundlich
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Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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