Welsh Refugee Council staff ‘harassed’ after Musk shares X post

Cardiff: Recently, a post by Elon Musk stirred up quite a storm. He shared something that suggested the Welsh Refugee Council was using videos of young girls to lure migrants to the UK. This didn’t sit well with the staff at the charity, who reported receiving threats and harassment online after the post went viral.

The Welsh Refugee Council clarified that the video Musk referenced was actually a school project. It featured kids talking about how welcoming Wales is for refugees. But after Musk’s post, things took a nasty turn. The charity said they faced a lot of online abuse, and it really affected their team.

One staff member, who wanted to stay anonymous, expressed feeling “physically sick” about the threats. They worried about how this backlash could impact the vulnerable people they help. Another colleague mentioned feeling disheartened by the racist comments directed at them. They emphasized how important it is to support those seeking safety in Wales.

The charity has been around for over 30 years, helping refugees settle in Wales. They want to make it clear that they didn’t create the video in question. They just shared it to highlight the positive messages from young people. The Welsh government also stepped in, calling the claims about the video “untrue and utterly irresponsible.”

In light of all this, the Welsh Refugee Council is urging everyone to check their facts before sharing anything online. They’re committed to supporting refugees and fostering understanding in the community. Meanwhile, BBC Wales is trying to get a comment from Musk about the situation.