A popular TikTok user named Nurse Holly is currently under fire for claiming that waiting to have sex until marriage is the best way to prevent STDs.
In the since-deleted video, Holly — who has 1.7 million followers on the platform — can be seen in her scrubs pointing toward captions that say, "the best way to prevent STDs is waiting for sex until marriage. Just the truth." And, needless to say, the internet wasn't happy.
if i go to get tested and the nurse tell me i should have waited till marriage SOMEONE is getting knocked tf out pic.twitter.com/cVnNENVIBi
— margo ♍︎ (@dumbbitchmargo) January 10, 2020
As many people pointed out, Holly's video spreads some problematic misinformation and is doubly irresponsible coming from an actual medical professional. Because rather than advocating for regular STD testing or better sex education, Holly opted to go the sex shaming abstinence route, which has been proven to be an "ineffective and unethical" strategy, per experts.
"The best way to prevent STIs is to create a culture where people seek regular STI testing and immediate treatment without having to worry about being judged by their medical care providers," as sex and culture critic Ella Dawson tweeted.
The best way to prevent STIs is to create a culture where people seek regular STI testing and immediate treatment without having to worry about being judged by their medical care providers. https://t.co/F0it89pA7B
— Ella Dawson (@brosandprose) January 12, 2020
Meanwhile, others echoed Dawson's statement by also pointing toward the issue of medical care providers judging their patients. As user Ryan Marino wrote, "Idk who needs to hear this but marriage doesn't prevent STDs since that's not how infections work."
"Maybe 'Nurse Holly' should do less condescending TikToks & more infxn transmission education," Marino continued. "And anyone who wants to impose their morals on patients should get out of healthcare."
Idk who needs to hear this but marriage doesn’t prevent STDs since that’s not how infections work. Maybe “Nurse Holly” should do less condescending TikToks & more infxn transmission education. And anyone who wants to impose their morals on patients should get out of healthcare. https://t.co/Mf9snhrpMQ
— Ryan Marino (@RyanMarino) January 13, 2020
That said, in the wake of the backlash, Holly told BuzzFeed News that she wanted to apologize "for any offense that was taken" and that her "only wish [is] to promote positivity and healthy lifestyles."
"In the comments, I acknowledged that of course using protection will help prevent STDs if one is sexually active. I just wanted to present another option to my young audience," Holly continued, before adding that she primarily made the video for her young female followers. "I understand that my voice will not be accepted by many as it's an unpopular view."
See what else people are saying about the video, below.
Actually the best way to prevent STDs is to actually educate people on sexual well being, know your partners, never trust anyone but yourself, practice safe & get tested regularly.
— Taylor ✨💓 (@makeup_withtay) January 11, 2020
Newsflash you can also end up marrying someone with an STD & https://t.co/PPKadkSWWl
all tik tok has shown me is that if i have a wh*t* woman as my doctor or nurse my most intimate medical details are going to end up as block text in a video that features her doing the macarena to a doja cat song
— first-mate prance (@bocxtop) January 14, 2020
Tik Tok’s biggest effect on me personally has been making me terrified of every single nurse I see. https://t.co/GY458dEk8Q
— Sylvia Plath OnlyFans (@saintknives) January 12, 2020
these dumbass nurse tic toks make me never wanna deal with a medical person again because all they’ve shown me is that they judge you for EVERYTHING you come in for and do it shamelessly by outing themselves on these apps. get a new career https://t.co/DEG7cqAn3s
— spacebøss ✨🌙🔜GET🦋LUCKY☘️🍀 (@AllieLayne5) January 11, 2020
Nurse Holly also seems to forget that not everyone has the choice of waiting until marriage.
— Evil Twin Barbie (@megaholt) January 12, 2020
Sexual assault and abuse happens.
It is never, ever-not under any circumstance, on any planet, in any solar system, in any universe, in any dimension-ever, the victim’s fault.
Never. https://t.co/ECLmdPHgi3
Photo via TikTok / @NurseHollyOfficial
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