Screen grab from Mia Khalifa鈥檚 Instagram account (@miakhalifa1)
BEIRUT, Lebanon鈥擜 Lebanese-born porn star living in the US has stirred fierce debate back home after her rise to fame split social media users in liberal-yet-conservative Lebanon.
Mia Khalifa, 21, who was born in Lebanon but lives in Miami, last week became the most searched star on adult movie site Porn Hub, with more than 1.5 million views, prompting a mix of scorn and praise from Lebanese commenters.
鈥淵ou are unworthy. You are only a sex object,鈥� posted one Facebook user, alongside an image of the half-naked Khalifa.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 represent Lebanon!鈥� another commenter said on Twitter, where the buxom brunette actress has attracted more than 78,000 followers.
Others leapt to Khalifa鈥檚 defense, albeit with reservations.
鈥淢ia Khalifa hasn鈥檛 harmed anyone. It鈥檚 her body,鈥� said a post on the Lebanese blog Philaz. But 鈥渨e are also free to say that what she is doing isn鈥檛 鈥榣iberalism鈥� but an attack on freedom.鈥�
鈥淵ou have to admire Mia Khalifa for her audacity,鈥� wrote a Twitter user.
And standup comedian Nemer Abou Nassar tweeted: 鈥淢ia we love you! i hope to high five you soon one day.鈥�
Although renowned for its nightlife, smoldering female pop stars and legal alcohol consumption unlike most other Arab states, parts of Lebanese society remain deeply conservative.
Last year, Lebanese Olympic skier Jackie Chamoun found herself at the center of a scandal after a video emerged of her taking part in a topless photo shoot, shocking many but also sparking online expressions of support.
Several photos posted online of Khalifa appear to show the actress sporting a tattoo on her left arm of a verse from the Lebanese national anthem.
鈥淟ebanon has always been a pioneer among Arab countries,鈥� a commentator said.
In a country more used to bad news, including a deteriorating security situation due to the conflict in neighboring Syria, viewers were greeted with images of Khalifa on national television bulletins.
鈥淢ia Khalifa is the first Lebanese who publicly boasts of practicing such a profession,鈥� said local news station Al-Jadeed.
Lebanon has struggled to deal with a mass influx of refugees from the war in Syria and 25 of its soldiers and police are being held captive by jihadists.
Several commentators even chose to play on the names of Khalifa (caliph in Arabic) and self-proclaimed caliph of the Islamic State jihadist group, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
鈥淲ho do you prefer as caliph? Mia or Al-Baghdadi? I prefer Mia Khalifa!鈥� said one Lebanese Twitter user.