Aussie tourists have thrown their support behind Martha Kalifatidis after she issued a dire warning about Los Angeles’ crime and homelessness crisis.
The Married At First Sight star, 33, made headlines on Monday after she shared an Instagram post detailing her ‘horrifying’ experience in the City of Angels, after travelling to the U.S. for a holiday with her fiancé Michael Brunelli last week.
Insisting she felt ‘unsafe’ the entire time, Martha warned other travellers to stay far away.
Why Los Angeles sucks: Australian tourists have shared their horror stories of being held up at gunpoint and seeing dead bodies in the street – after Married At First Sight star Martha Kalifatidis (pictured) was shocked by the plague of crime of homelessness
Many Australians have since shared their own disturbing stories about LA, with one expat describing the city as ‘hell’.
‘I’m an Aussie living in the US and totally agree. America is just the most disgusting place. NYC is actually nowhere near as scary as Los Angeles/San Francisco, especially if you stay in the right neighbourhoods… get the hell out of California, it’s hell,’ the fan commented on Martha’s Instagram page.
Another wrote: ‘I was there for six weeks but left two weeks ago. Got held up at gunpoint on Melrose at 2pm and stole my Rolex. So scary. I used to love LA too but not anymore.’
Holiday from hell: Martha made headlines on Monday after she shared an Instagram post detailing her ‘horrifying’ experience in the City of Angels, after travelling to the U.S. for a holiday with her fiancé Michael Brunelli (left) last week
‘Get the hell out of California’: Aussies have since shared their own disturbing stories about California, with one expat describing the city as ‘hell’. Pictured: a homeless encampment on the sidewalk in Los Angeles
‘Used to love LA too but not anymore’: One person recalled having their Rolex watch stolen at gunpoint in Melrose. Pictured: a homeless man being detained in Los Angeles
One expat admitted she was reduced to tears within a day of arriving in California.
‘I moved from Australia to Chicago in August. I’m so scared here. I spent a night in LA when I arrived and called my partner crying as I was so devastated by the homelessness and how out of control it has come,’ they wrote.
Martha sparked debate on Monday after she shared an Instagram Story post revealing the dark reality of crime in LA, after seeing a ‘lifeless body’ on the road in West Hollywood during her trip last week.
‘I’m so scared here’: One expat admitted she was reduced to tears within a day of arriving in California. Pictured: a homeless encampment in Los Angeles
‘We drove past a lifeless body face down in the gutter’: Martha discussed her trip with fans during an Instagram Story Q&A on Monday, revealing that she was left ‘horrified’ by the crime and homelessness currently plaguing the City Of Angels
‘Guys, LA was terrible! We went back because we loved it so much when we were there 2 years ago… but it’s not the same,’ the reality star wrote.
‘It’s changed so much since Covid. The homelessness situation is so bad. I can’t even begin to describe it,’ she continued.
Martha went on to express her horror after seeing a ‘lifeless body’ on the road in West Hollywood.
Nowhere is safe: The brunette said she felt a constant sense of unease after speaking to locals. Pictured: Martha posing on the street after arriving in Los Angeles last week
‘We drove past a lifeless body face down in the gutter outside a gas station on Melrose, f**king Melrose!’ she explained.
‘Ppl driving and walking past it completely unbothered! It was horrific, I couldn’t eat for the rest of the day after seeing that. I felt sick.’
Martha’s trip was filled with visits to celebrity hotspots including Craig’s in West Hollywood and Kim Kardashian’s favourite restaurant Nobu in Malibu.
‘We booked a stay here completely unaware’: Martha insisted that she had no idea about California’s crime and homelessness crisis
However, the brunette said she felt a constant sense of unease after speaking to locals.
‘The crime rate is up 300%! Every Uber driver told us to beware, don’t wear anything flashy because ppl have been getting robbed at gunpoint. Nowhere is safe,’ she warned, adding: ‘Even Beverly Hills is super dangerous and experiencing violence crimes daily.’
Martha insisted that she had no idea about California’s crime and homelessness crisis.
![Doubling down: However, Martha has since been slammed by trolls who disagreed with her grim portrayal of the Californian city. She responded to these critics on Instagram, writing: 'So many people coming for me in the DMs. I'm not saying all of America is [trash]. Only talking about my experience'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/12/14/21/51752323-10310065-Doubling_down_However_Martha_has_since_been_slammed_by_trolls_wh-a-56_1639517941910.jpg)
Doubling down: However, Martha has since been slammed by trolls who disagreed with her grim portrayal of the Californian city. She responded to these critics on Instagram, writing: ‘So many people coming for me in the DMs. I’m not saying all of America is [trash]. Only talking about my experience’
‘The news over here is so different, we don’t hear about anything going on, so we booked a stay here completely unaware. The mayor or LA just announced any tourist wanting to visit should stay away!’ she wrote.
The Celebrity Apprentice star said she and Michael won’t be returning to America any time soon. ‘It’s such a scary time, we are so lucky in Australia! I will not be coming back to LA / USA for a very long time! It’s been horrifying! We felt completely unsafe the entire time!’ she wrote.
However, Martha has since been slammed by trolls who disagreed with her grim portrayal of the Californian city.
‘If you don’t agree with me, cool. Just scroll past’: Martha insisted she ‘wasn’t complaining’ but instead wanted to warn others so ‘they don’t make the same mistake’ by travelling there
Martha hit back at these critics on Instagram Stories, writing: ‘So many people coming for me in the DMs. I’m not saying all of America is [trashcan emoji]. Only talking about my experience.’
‘I had fun, went to the basketball, was epic! Lol that’s about it to be honest, honestly the rest was a complete waste of time and money,’ she fumed.
Martha insisted she ‘wasn’t complaining’ but instead wanted to warn others so ‘they don’t make the same mistake’ by travelling there.
‘Australia has caught up’: She also claimed LA has little to offer Australian travellers these days, and that it just isn’t worth enduring the city’s crime and homelessness for the sake of a holiday
She also claimed LA has little to offer Australian travellers these days, and that it just isn’t worth enduring the city’s crime and homelessness for the sake of a holiday.
‘Australia has caught up, we’re no longer behind the USA in terms of fashion and shopping etc. I would argue we’re ahead in terms of retail / shopping and hospitality / food at the moment,’ she said.
Responding directly to her critics, Martha added: ‘Also, if you don’t agree with me, that’s cool. Just scroll past. I’ve always had so much love for the U.S., I grew up there [heartbreak emoji].’
With a homeless population of nearly 64,000 and a surge in violent crime, Los Angeles has struggled to emerge from the wreckage of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Further, researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, have found that nearly 1,493 people experiencing homelessness died on the city’s streets between March 2020 and July 2021.
The most common cause of death among the alleged homeless population was an alcohol or drug overdose.
A city in crisis: With a homeless population of nearly 64,000 and a surge in violent crime, Los Angeles has struggled to emerge from the wreckage of the Covid-19 pandemic. Pictured: Stock photo of a homeless encampment at Venice Beach, Los Angeles