SEE IT: Woman in aerobics outfit dances as Myanmar military coup plays out in the background
Video of a neon-clad woman dancing while a military coup seemingly unfolds behind her in Myanmar went viral Monday as the internet struggled to grasp the absurdity of the surreal combination of events.
The Myanmar military seized control of the southeast Asian nation’s parliament Monday, arresting democratically elected leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi, amid charges of voter fraud. As that was happening, a P.E. teacher Buzzfeed News identified as Khing Hnin Wai films herself busting moves in a public roundabout as electronic dance music plays and armored vehicles pass by in the distance. Khing appears unaware of her place in history.
I spoke to Àngel, who says he cut the video from Facebook and posted here, and it seems Khing Hnin Wai just posted a a bunch of other videos she took at the same location as proof, responding to its virality. So I am leaning towards considering it legit https://t.co/Ae1er8F5Bl pic.twitter.com/PQW7PExoGH
— Vincent Bevins (@Vinncent) February 1, 2021
Speculation ran amok that the odd video, which was posted on the teacher’s Facebook page, was a digitally altered work of performance art. A closer look at online maps and aerial views reportedly indicate the dance routine and military insurrection were taking place simultaneously.
Una mujer hizo su clase de aerobic sin darse cuenta de que estaban dando el golpe de Estado en Myanmar. Y pues puede verse como el convoy de militares llega al parlamento. pic.twitter.com/fmFUzhawRe
— Àngel Marrades (@VonKoutli) February 1, 2021
“Someone? Is oblivious to their surroundings!” wrote one social media user.
Another man had a different take on the situation.
“Amazing footage,” he wrote to the dancing teacher. “You’re famous!”
The coup d’etat in Myanmar has been criticized by world leaders including U.S. president Biden, who in recent months saw his own predecessor push to overturn the results of the U.S. election.
Those efforts included a violent rally that ended in the unsuccessful Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol by loyalists to former president Donald Trump. Weeks later, Biden was sworn into office at an inauguration that included musical performances by Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez outside that same federal building.
