US-based Iranian influencer sparks fury after praising alleged rapists

A Texas-based Iranian influencer with over 14 million Instagram followers has sparked outrage for praising three Iranian athletes accused of gang raping a young woman in South Korea.

In a video that went viral on Persian social media, Aisan Eslami said the alleged rape was “good news” and the accused had “their flag raised high.” He blamed the victim, suggesting she had invited the assault.

The video reignited a broader debate about misogyny, patriarchy, and toxic masculinity in Iranian society and the diaspora.

“The mindset and lifestyle of someone like Aisan Eslami is exactly what has dragged Iran into ruin,” journalist Pejman Mousavi posted on X. “It defines masculinity through rape and assault and sees women as objects without rights.”

This isn’t Eslami’s first controversy. In August 2024, he was condemned for using vulgar, violent language against a young Iranian woman he accused of prostitution in Dubai.

He even defended honor killings, saying she “deserved death” for violating family honor. He later apologized, but many dismissed it as insincere, especially after he blamed the woman for provoking him.

This time, several petitions have been launched against Eslami, including one calling on Meta to remove him from Instagram because of his “repeated and egregious” promotion of violence against women.

One petition argued that his content endangers young users by portraying rape as admirable. Others—on Change.org and Daadkhat.org—have called for Eslami’s prosecution in the US for justifying rape and inciting violence

“Aisan Eslami is not just an individual actor. He represents a broader, dangerous culture of hegemonic masculinity that often begins with verbal abuse and ends in femicide and so-called 'honor' killings,” reads the Change.org petition.

The backlash has also extended to public figures who still follow Eslami. Social media users have urged them to unfollow or publicly disavow him.

“I’ve unfollowed 43 people so far—some friends, colleagues, or athletes I’ve followed for years—because they still follow Aisan Eslami,” wrote Iranian journalist Abolfazl Amanollah on Instagram.

“Unfollowing Eslami shouldn’t be a passing trend—it must become part of a broader cultural shift,” posted @arashyousefi, an Iranian user in the US. “Maybe this campaign will inspire popular influencers to launch mass movements against vulgarity.”

Despite the backlash, Eslami’s follower count has grown in recent days. Some, including commentator Alireza Nouri, allege he’s buying fake followers to offset losses. Others point to platform mechanics.

“Curiosity alone can drive clicks,” wrote sociologist Mohammad Rahbari on Telegram, suggesting Instagram’s algorithm may be amplifying controversial content for engagement.

A reader comment on Ensaf News summed up the prevailing sentiment among the influencer’s detractors.

“The slogan of people like Aisan Eslami is ‘protect the women related to you and sever their heads if they step out of line.’ But when it’s someone else’s sister or daughter, they bare their teeth like hyenas. Would he still be praising the athletes if the victim were his own wife or sister?”