Influencer Danny Karne, known online as “Danny Lambo,” has faced widespread condemnation after posting a video filmed at a Kent hotel in which he and a group of friends joked about the recent murder of Ann Widdecombe, using an artwork depicting a woman lying on the ground as the centrepiece of the clip.
An influencer and his friends have sparked outrage after footage emerged of them joking about the murder of former MP Ann Widdecombe, who was killed at her Devon home on 8 July. The video was filmed and posted by Danny Karne, who goes by “Danny Lambo” online and has around 100,000 Instagram followers, during a visit to the luxury Eastwell Manor Champneys hotel and spa in Kent, which was hosting a two-day arts festival at the time. The clip was captioned in a way that directly referenced Widdecombe’s death, prompting immediate backlash online.
The artwork at the centre of the controversy
The video centres on an installation titled “Still Life. Woman on the Floor,” created by artist Olivia Herring before Widdecombe’s murder and therefore not originally intended to depict her. The piece, which shows a woman lying on the ground, had already drawn attention in the weeks following Widdecombe’s death due to its resemblance to public perceptions of the killing, with some observers noting the similarity even though the work predated the murder. Calls have since been made for the installation to be withdrawn from public display, with critics arguing its resemblance to the case has become too distressing in the aftermath of her death.
Reaction to the video
The footage has drawn strong condemnation online, with critics describing the content as deeply inappropriate given how recently Widdecombe was killed. Beyond the references to her death, one remark made during the video, directed at a member of the group, has drawn additional criticism for its racial undertones.
Lambo, who was raised in Croydon by school-teacher parents and has built an online following around content showcasing luxury cars, hotels and a high-end lifestyle, has not issued a public apology at the time of writing.
