Amaya Espinal — AKA Amaya Papaya — is sparking major backlash online!
While working on a new project in Mexico City earlier this week, the Love Island USA fan favorite took to Instagram Stories to show off her new foot tattoo of the word “Mashallah,” which translates to “what God has willed.”
But social media users are slamming her for it! Why, you ask? They say it was “so disrespectful,” especially the placement!
People wrote on X:
“Amaya putting Mashallah on her foot is honestly so disrespectful to Muslims. Mashallah is a phrase connected to Allah and religion, not some cute aesthetic word to use as decoration. People need to stop treating sacred religious phrases like trends or accessories and then acting confused when Muslims get offended by it. And the fact that nobody is really speaking up about it is part of the problem. It’s frustrating to see something so meaningful get treated like it doesn’t matter at all.”
“this is so disrespectful hello??
where did the love island producers even find this cast”
“Amaya’s new tattoo bro how is she that ignorant”
“Mashallah is a phrase we use to express admiration, gratitude, or appreciation for something while acknowledging that it happened by God’s will. It means ‘What God has willed’. Feet and shoes are considered unclean so it’s a disrespectful placement. She is also not Muslim.”
where did the love island producers even find this cast”Related: Sarah Ferguson BLAMES Royals For Leaking Her Location Amid Andrew & Epstein Drama!
See the tattoo in question (below):
wtf amaya the concept of putting allahs name on your foot smh pic.twitter.com/XYKa2rD8rV
— ىꕤ (@gwsalushi) May 19, 2026
Amaya fired back at all the backlash on Tuesday, insisting she only has a “high respect” for the Muslim religion. She also accused people of constantly finding ways to “attack” her:
“The level of high respect I have for Allah & the Muslim religion is incredibly deep which is why I got the tattoo in honor , respect & value. People find ANYTHING I do to attack me. My intentions were never disrespectful however I understand the sensitivity & didn’t mean to offend anyone.”
A previous version of the post included the line, “Both of my best friends are Muslim,” FYI. It’s important context for this next post from a social media user, who responded to Amaya in the comments:
“Intention doesn’t excuse impact. I’m not sure if you consulted with your Muslim friends but placing the name of God on your feet is highly disrespectful. Not sure why you chose your foot instead of some other body part that’s not disrespectful”
To which Amaya replied with the actual words “I’m sorry” this time:
“I understand and will do better to educate myself next time. Once again my intentions were pure. I am sorry”
The reality star then explained why she put “Mashallah” on her foot before apologizing for offending anyone:
“My last time speaking about this on X but the reason why I decided to place it on my foot was to represent God Will and always walking with him / protected by him. I apologize if I offended anyone & will do better to educate myself but saying I intended to purposely be disrespectful, no. Have a great day my papayas”
Let this be a lesson! Do your research before getting certain tattoos!
What are your reactions to Amaya’s response to the controversy, Perezcious readers? Sound OFF in the comments!
[Image via Amaya Espinal/Instagram]
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