17.05.2026 10:20
The young girl who drew backlash for a TikTok video at her grandfather's funeral has been identified as Melek Bal, daughter of artists Umut Akyürek and Oktay Ertuğrul. Criticized for posing by the coffin, Bal defended herself, saying, "I wanted to be in the same frame with my grandfather one last time."
A TikTok video that spread on social media in recent days sparked a major controversy. A young girl, whose grandfather had passed away, shared a video she recorded while going to the funeral with the note "Funeral outfit," drawing backlash. Her subsequent posts showing her posing by her grandfather's coffin quickly became a subject of criticism.
THE PERSON WHO MADE THE POST TURNED OUT TO BE FAMILIAR
It was revealed that the person sharing the controversial videos was Melek Bal, the daughter of artist Umut Akyürek and Oktay Ertuğrul. While the footage Melek Bal recorded at the funeral caused widespread reactions on social media, many users condemned the young individual.
"I WANTED TO BE IN THE SAME FRAME WITH MY GRANDFATHER ONE LAST TIME"
Melek Bal responded to the criticism directed at her, such as "Did you really shoot a TikTok by the coffin?" via her social media account. In her post, Bal said, "I wanted to be in the same frame with my grandfather one last time."
COMPLAINED ABOUT CRITICISMS
Reacting to the comments, Melek Bal made the following statement:
"Instead of offering condolences, or moving past the video, the comments you make with your ugly heart are truly disgusting. You know I usually don't care about any hate, but this is a sensitive issue. Since you are the ones with the most Muslim and family values, open your hands and recite a Fatiha."
HAD PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED TREATMENT
Melek Bal had also made headlines last year due to her treatment process for substance addiction. It was reported that Bal underwent months of treatment at a clinic.