Influencer slammed for 'shameful' posts as she jokes Hurricane Melissa ruined her holiday

Hurricane Melissa is being referred to as the 'storm of the century'.

But despite the storm heading straight for Jamaica, influencer Hannah Grubbs stuck to her holiday plans and jetted out to the tropical destination. 

The content creator has been documenting the trip on TikTok and Instagram, but her lighthearted – or as they're being branded, tone-deaf – posts about the hurricane messing up her holiday have got people fired up. 

Watch the video above.

The backlash against Grubbs started when she shared a now-deleted TikTok on October 24 of herself and a friend walking through the airport. 

"Us on our way to Jamaica during a hurricane," the post was captioned. 

She shared another TikTok, which is still on her page, of herself at a hotel bar. 

In it, Grubbs held out two hands while a bartender handed over two colourful frosty drinks, adding the text: "pretending there's not a category 5 hurricane hitting jamaica" to the video. 

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People on TikTok were clearly frustrated with the flippant nature of the posts, with the devastation currently hitting the island community. 

"Soooo they don't get to be home with their families in their homes to prepare for the hurricane, they have to serve you drinks," commented one user.

Another echoed, "This is shameful." 

Grubbs posted another short clip of herself on a balcony, huffing and puffing looking out at the video. 

"Hurricane Melissa out here messing with my vacation," read the text in the clip. 

But it seems the reality of how dangerous a situation she and her friend were in finally hit when hotel staff came to tape up the windows of their balcony doors. 

Grubbs has since shared more updates as the storm made landfall, clearly not taking things as lightly now. 

Multiple reports noted Hurricane Melissa struck the coast of Jamaica around 1pm ET on Tuesday, October 28, hitting New Hope with 296km/h winds, the strongest ever recorded.

In one update, Grubbs said they had been given food and water from the hotel staff and guests all had to be inside by 7:30pm. At that point it was before the worst of the wind and rain was set to hit. 

Commenters criticised her again for travelling to Jamaica when the storm was coming. 

"She literally flew to Jamaica knowing a hurricane was incoming. The reality check is going to be so real," commented one person. 

Another wrote, "You legitimately flew there knowing this was happening & made jokes about it.. I don't get it.."

"It's going to be the worst night of your life. If you can go inland away from the shore would be best. I hope y'all make it. Prayers Sent," another advised.

Grubbs' latest video on TikTok, at the time of writing, was from Tuesday afternoon and she admitted she didn't sleep well overnight as the storm hit.

"Because of all of the crazy sounds, they were just unbelievable, like noises I have never heard of in my life," she said.

She filmed herself outside standing in a stairwell, with the wind still blowing around her.

The influencer thanked the staff and hotel workers who had been helping her and other guests through the terrifying experience.

Despite every one of her videos about the storm on TikTok receiving criticism, she has not responded to any of the backlash.

Meanwhile, the National Hurricane Center has urged locals to stay sheltered in a safe place: "Extremely dangerous #Melissa moving across northwestern Jamaica. This [remains] an extremely dangerous situation!"

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