Kate Langbroek has spent the past five weeks sharing regular updates to Instagram from her apartment in Bologna, Italy, where she and her family have been living under lockdown.
And while many fans enjoy reading her lighthearted dispatches from Europe’s coronavirus epicentre, the 54-year-old radio host has also copped her fair share of criticism from trolls who say she shouldn’t have moved overseas in the first place.
A recent appearance on The Project – during which she said it was ‘more terrifying’ to be in Australia than Italy right now – sparked a fierce backlash on Twitter, with critics pointing out that Australia’s infection rate is significantly lower.
‘Are you insane?’ Kate Langbroek has offered a savage response to trolls who mocked her for relocating to Italy before the coronavirus pandemic. Pictured with her family in their Bologna apartment on March 21
Kate said that it was more frightening to be in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic because ‘you can see the wave coming’, whereas Italian residents were ‘just thrust into it’ without warning.
In response to her statements, one critic wrote: ‘Nobody cares what you think.’ Another added: ‘God, haven’t we been punished enough?’
One keyboard warrior pointed out that Kate had been ‘laughing and cracking jokes’ two weeks earlier, as if to suggest she hadn’t been taking the situation seriously.
Kate shut down this argument by responding: ‘I still am.’
Criticism: While many fans enjoy reading her lighthearted dispatches from Europe’s coronavirus epicentre, the 54-year-old radio host has also copped her fair share of criticism from trolls who say she shouldn’t have moved overseas in the first place. Pictured on March 28
Backlash: A recent appearance on The Project – during which Kate said it was ‘more terrifying’ to be in Australia than Italy right now – sparked a backlash on Twitter, with critics arguing this was demonstrably false given that Australia’s death and infection rate is much lower
Trolling: In response to her statements, one critic wrote: ‘Nobody cares what you think.’ Another added: ‘God, haven’t we been punished enough?’
On the defensive: One keyboard warrior pointed out that Kate had been ‘laughing and cracking jokes’ two weeks earlier, as if to suggest she hadn’t been taking the situation seriously. Kate shut down this argument by responding: ‘I still am’
Hitting back: Another troll mocked Kate’s physical appearance, saying she looked ‘way better’ during dimly-lit her Skype call on The Project. But the comedian offered a perfect comeback, replying: ‘Thanks, handsome’
Another troll mocked Kate’s physical appearance, saying she looked ‘way better’ during dimly-lit her Skype call on The Project.
But the comedian offered a perfect comeback, replying: ‘Thanks, handsome.’
It comes weeks after Kate hit back at an Instagram follower who mocked her for moving overseas with her family before the coronavirus pandemic.
Not impressed: It comes weeks after Kate hit back at an Instagram follower who mocked her for moving overseas with her family before the coronavirus pandemic. Pictured with her husband, Peter Allen Lewis, in Bologna on March 8
Online abuse: The troll wrote, ‘GREAT DECISION TO GO TO ITALY! I WONDER WHO DROVE THAT DECISION! #KARMA LOL. Let’s spend 12 months in ITALY, that’s a great idea for a lifestyle change. How’s that working for you? In hindsight? Lol.’
Taking a stand: The mother-of-four, who relocated to Italy a full year before COVID-19 arrived in Europe, replied: ‘Are you insane? Or just nasty?’
The troll wrote: ‘GREAT DECISION TO GO TO ITALY! I WONDER WHO DROVE THAT DECISION! #KARMA LOL.
‘Let’s spend 12 months in ITALY, that’s a great idea for a lifestyle change. How’s that working for you? In hindsight? Lol.’
The mother-of-four, who relocated to Italy a full year before COVID-19 arrived in Europe, replied: ‘Are you insane? Or just nasty?’
Holiday from hell: Kate lives in Bologna, in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, which has become a ghost city amid the global health crisis. Pictured with her family
Kate lives in Bologna, in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, which has become a ghost city amid the global health crisis.
The country is in the middle of an unprecedented national lockdown, with the coronavirus death toll sitting at 16,523 as of Tuesday morning (AEST) out of a total of 132,547 confirmed cases.
She has been documenting her experience on Instagram, sharing confronting photos of abandoned streets and empty churches, as well as describing some of the restrictions being enforced in public spaces.
Meanwhile, she has been home schooling her children in recent weeks due to the nationwide closure of education facilities.
Expat life: Kate and her husband, Peter Allen Lewis (right), relocated to Italy in January 2019 with their children, Lewis, Sunday, Artie and Jan, for what was supposed to be a ‘gap year’, but they have since extended their stay for another 12 months
Kate and her husband, Peter Allen Lewis, relocated to Italy in January 2019 with their children, Lewis, Sunday, Artie and Jan, for what was supposed to be a ‘gap year’, but they have since extended their stay for another 12 months.
COVID-19 was first identified in Wuhan, China, in December and has since spread to more than 1.3 million people worldwide, and killed more than 74,000.
It was recognised as a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11.
Dispatches: She has been documenting her experience on Instagram, sharing confronting photos of abandoned streets and empty churches, as well as describing some of the restrictions being enforced in public spaces