Indonesia's Instagram sensation Laura Anna died aged 21
JAKARTA (via TheJakartaPost.com) – Instagram celebrity Endelenyi Laura Anna died on Wednesday at the age of 21, her management has confirmed. The influencer had been paralyzed from the waist down for two years after a car crash in 2019. Her death has left unresolved a legal battle with her ex-boyfriend Gaga Muhammad, also an internet celebrity, who was driving the car when the accident occurred, allegedly under the influence of alcohol. Cosmetics entrepreneur Shandy Purnamasari, a friend, first shared the news of Laura Anna’s death.
Fellow celebrities flooded social media with condolences, including influencer couple Raffi Ahmad and Nagita Slavina, actress Nikita Mirzani and magician-turned-podcaster Deddy Corbuzier. The news also ignited public outrage against Gaga, whom some of Laura’s fans hold responsible for her ill-fated final years. After a night partying, the couple was involved in a car accident on the Jagorawi toll road in the early hours of Dec. 8, 2019. Laura dislocated one of her cervical vertebrae in the crash, which left her paralyzed from waist down. Gaga survived the crash virtually uninjured. To cover her medical expenses, Gaga started a crowdfunding campaign that reportedly raised Rp 10 million (US$696). But the couple faced an online backlash, as they had often been spotted vacationing and indulging in a luxury lifestyle.
A few months later in early 2020, Laura claimed on her Instagram account (@edlnlaura) that Gaga had not transferred the funds to pay for her medical bills. She also accused Gaga of neglecting her to be with other women while she was being treated and using her ATM card to withdraw cash immediately after the crash, while she was unconscious in the hospital. The story went viral, tarnishing their image as a happy internet power couple.
Laura’s family lawyer subpoenaed Gaga, demanding that he pay Rp 12.6 billion toward her medical bills. Gaga ignored the subpoena. In response, Laura’s family helped prosecutors build a case against him.
Gaga is now facing a drunk driving charge that carries a maximum punishment of 5 years in prison and a maximum Rp 10 million fine. Laura testified at the East Jakarta District Court just two weeks ago, on Dec. 2. Laura continued her work as an Instagram celebrity while undergoing physical rehabilitation. She regularly posted endorsements and daily updates on her physical therapy progress to more than 1.5 million followers, maintaining a positive attitude in cheeky comments about her condition and anger toward Gaga. In the last few months of her life, Laura, who had started using a wheelchair, gave talk show interviews, often speaking about how her health had improved. Less than 24 hours before her death, Laura was still uploading selfies and videos on Instagram, show her smiling and enjoying time with her friends. The comments section of her final post, showing her seated at a dinner table surrounded by family and friends, including entertainers Raffi and Nagita, has been flooded with farewell messages from her fans since her death was announced.
Rest in peace and love Laura Anna (2000-2021), you'll always and forever be loved!
Gallery from the funeral:
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