French-Algerian influencer and skincare brand owner Yass Naubelle was arrested at Marrakech–Menara Airport in Morocco, moments before she was due to board a flight back to France. The arrest on Saturday followed a TikTok video she posted during her vacation in the country, in which she criticized local drivers and the conduct of traffic police.
According to a report in the Daily Mail, citing Moroccan and Algerian media outlets, authorities suspect Naubelle of distributing “defamatory and insulting digital content” against citizens and undermining a public institution. Following the video, an investigation was opened and a search notice was issued for her. When she arrived at the airport in Marrakech on her way back to France, she was detained and taken in for questioning. The influencer, who has tens of thousands of followers on social media, is still being held in Morocco, and it is not yet clear whether charges have been filed against her.
In the viral video, which has since been deleted from her TikTok account, the 30-year-old described her impressions of her trip to Marrakech. Among other things, she said the city’s roads were dangerous and chaotic. “'I've never seen people drive like this. It's super dangerous - cars, mopeds without helmets, with children on board, swerving suddenly,” she said. She later compared the situation to Algeria, her country of origin, claiming “It's less bad than here."
Another part of the video focused on local traffic police. Naubelle alleged that officers stop female drivers “for nothing” and suggested the purpose of these stops was to extract bribes. According to Moroccan media reports, authorities view her comments as damaging to the dignity of citizens and a public institution, which led to the decision to open an investigation against her.
Since the normalization of relations between Israel and Morocco under the Abraham Accords, the country has become a popular destination for Israelis, while also breaking tourism records in recent years. In 2025, Morocco was visited by about 19.8 million tourists — its highest-ever figure — making it one of Africa’s leading tourist destinations.
Although direct flights between Ben Gurion Airport and Morocco have been suspended since the outbreak of the war, requiring travelers to fly via connecting hubs, the country continues to attract many visitors. The arrest of Naubelle highlights how social media posts during travel can draw the attention of local authorities, particularly when they touch on sensitive issues involving state institutions or the local population.