The appointment of Monika Laskowska — an influencer, freak fight star, and model associated with the adult platform OnlyFans — as the “Ambassador of Memory of the Warsaw Uprising” has sparked a wave of outrage in Poland. Laskowska is also known by the pseudonym “The Best Polish Journalist.”
The campaign “Ambassadors of Memory of the Warsaw Uprising” aims to popularize the memory of the events of 1944 on social media. It is conducted by Stowarzyszenie Warszawa44, which has been officially operating for about two years. The project received grant support under the program “Patriotism of Tomorrow”, implemented by the Museum of the History of Poland.
Organizers note that within the framework of the campaign, symbolic packages are sent to actors, athletes, musicians, journalists, content creators, and other public figures capable of spreading information about the Warsaw Uprising in the media and on the internet.
Organizers also announced cooperation with museums, the Warsaw Voivodeship Office, the Capital City of Warsaw Office, and the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. The ministry provided the campaign with honorary patronage. The head of the department, Marta Cienkowska, stated on August 2 that she proudly joins the action.
Poland’s Ministry distanced itself from the choice of Laskowska
A spokesman for the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, Piotr Jędrzejowski, reported that the name of Monika Laskowska appeared on the list of ambassadors only in the evening of August 19.
He emphasized that although the commemoration of the 82nd anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising is under the honorary patronage of the ministry, the “ambassadors” project itself is not funded or organizationally supported by the department. According to him, the list of ambassadors was not part of the application for patronage, and the candidates were selected by the organizers themselves after it was obtained.
The ministry also stated that everyone has the right to honor the memory of the Warsaw Uprising and its participants; however, the ambassadors of such a campaign “should be chosen very carefully.”
The Capital City of Warsaw Office also denied cooperation with Stowarzyszenie Warszawa44. A spokeswoman for the mayor’s office, Monika Bojt, stated that the city did not provide the organization with the patronage of the mayor, does not cooperate with it, and does not fund its projects. The Warsaw Uprising Museum also reported that it was not aware of the campaign.
Organizers suspended Laskowska’s participation
After a wave of criticism, Stowarzyszenie Warszawa44 stated that the decision to invite Laskowska was made by the organizers independently, without the involvement of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.
The organization explained that when selecting Laskowska, they considered her presence in the public space, her reach on social media, and her willingness to promote the memory of the Warsaw Uprising.
At the same time, after the controversies surrounding her activities arose, the organizers decided to suspend all actions related to her performing the functions of an ambassador.
Source: Gazeta.pl
