Lola Berry responds to backlash after travelling to Australia from US to promote her new book

Lola Berry (pictured) has responded to backlash after she came under fire for her ‘insensitive’ post about travelling to Australia from the US to promote her new book

Nutritionist Lola Berry has responded to backlash after she came under fire for her ‘insensitive’ and ‘tone deaf’ post about travelling to Australia from the US to promote her new book.

The nutrition queen – who splits her time between Los Angeles and Byron Bay – updated her fans on social media saying she was on her way back to home soil following three cancelled flights.

‘It was no easy feat with the current travel caps and only two airlines flying from America into Australia. After being bumped three times, this was our four time lucky,’ Lola wrote on her Facebook.

‘To everyone asking why I’m coming back, I am here for the release of my next book Fearlessly Failing – I’ve poured my heart and soul into it and want to do everything in my power to see it fly.’

But her post was met with outrage, with many criticising her over the ‘unnecessary trip to Australia to release a book’ due to the current situation amid lockdown restrictions due to spiralling Covid-19 case numbers.

In response to the backlash, the 36-year-old shared her side of the story with Daily Mail Australia, saying it was never her intention to offend anyone.

Her post was met with outrage, with many criticising her over the ‘unnecessary trip to Australia to release a book’ due to the current situation amid lockdown restrictions due to spiralling Covid-19 case numbers 

The nutrition queen – who splits her time between LA and Byron Bay – updated her fans on social media saying she was on her way back to home soil following three cancelled flights

Her response comes just a day after she was criticised on social media, with many taking particular issue with Lola for her ‘insensitive’ post about her new book launch

‘I completely understand everyone’s perspective because I haven’t seen my family since November last year and they are in Melbourne. I’m sorry for offending anyone. My intention was to never hurt Australians,’ Lola told Daily Mail Australia. 

‘I’m really open and honest about my journey on social media so my aim is to be transparent with everyone. I’m always updating my followers so I didn’t mean to be insensitive. The last thing I want to do is hurt anyone so I apologise.’

Lola – who landed in Sydney on Tuesday morning – said she’ll be flying straight to Byron Bay once she’s released from her two-week hotel quarantine.

Like most Aussies stranded overseas due to the pandemic, Lola – who moved to LA in May this year for business – said her flight home was far from easy.

‘It was a confronting experience. I had three flights cancelled. My flight home was very expensive. I managed to book an economy ticket which cost just under $10,000. It’s quite dear. It took me four flights just to get home,’ she said.

Lola said she relocated to the US in May this year after she successfully got a green card

Many expressed their frustrations and concerns after Lola’s post about her return home

Lola said she relocated to the US after she successfully got a green card.

‘It’s a once-in-a-lifetime visa – you only get it once and you don’t get it again so I had six months to be on American soil. I moved in May and have been there for the past four-and-a-half-months for work, fully on business,’ she explained.

‘I’m a permanent resident. My dream is to split my time between LA and Byron Bay so six months here and six months over there.’

The nutritionist said she returned home to Australia to promote her new book after she was unable to push the launch date to next year.

‘I explored every option to stay in America but I was told my book was going ahead with the launch. I tried to move it but I couldn’t so I weighed up all my options and my best fighting chance was to come home to promote it,’ she said.

Her response comes just a day after she was criticised on social media, with many taking particular issue with Lola for her ‘tone deaf’ post about her new book launch.

The nutritionist said she returned home to Australia to promote her new book after she was unable to push the launch date to next year

However, many jumped to Lola’s defence, urging the nutritionist to ignore the negativity

‘It’s only for a book release. Very insensitive and maybe she should have read the room before putting this up or even thinking it was a necessary trip. People have missed out on births and funerals, and are separated from families,’ one wrote.

Another said: ‘I find this so wrong – people can not travel here to visit family or reunite with their partners but people can come to release a book, so wrong.’

While one added: ‘Super happy for you Lola being able to visit Australia… no way is this an attack on you. But given the current circumstances and given how tough so many Australians are doing not being able to see family overseas or interstate. 

‘This post does come off very poorly and is insensitive to that. For someone with a large social media following and a “known” personality I think it’s important to understand that.’

One new mum said she hasn’t been able to see her family in New South Wales after giving birth to a newborn baby. 

‘I feel this post is insensitive considering the situation Australia is in and we are separated from our families both within the same states in some cases and interstate in others. How is releasing a book more important than seeing family?’ she said.

However, many jumped to Lola’s defence, with one saying: ‘She’s Australian and deserves to come back home just as much as the last person. 

‘The fact she has a book to release at the same time – what an amazing woman! Ignore the negative girl… it’s not your fault that these rules are in place.’

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk