AWK Apologises for Reposting Hoax Content Defaming Journalist in Bali
A Kompas journalist in Bali with the initials YS became a victim of slander after her photo was taken without permission by an Instagram account. The case escalated when the content was reposted by the social media account of DPD RI member Shri I Gusti Ngurah Arya Wedakarna, alias AWK, on both Instagram and Facebook.
YS initially covered a press conference at Bali Police Headquarters regarding the uncovering of a sexual assault case on Friday (27/3/2026) at 10:00 WITA. The article and photos from the press conference were then published around 12:12 WIB.
The following day, Saturday (28/3/2026) around 17:13 WITA, YS learned that the Instagram account @kuatbaca had posted news with a title and narrative similar to the article she had written. The account even added an edited photo of YS with an orange circle and black scribbles over the eyes.
According to YS’s account, the photo was her profile picture on the news page. This made it appear as though YS was the perpetrator of the sexual harassment in the news.
The post immediately received comments laced with bullying and racism. YS admitted that this greatly affected her mental state and her work.
“After seeing and reading the content and netizen comments, my mental state immediately dropped and I could no longer work. This is a heinous slander against me,” said YS on Sunday (29/3/2026).
Racial attacks on YS intensified on the account of DPD RI member Shri I Gusti Ngurah Arya Wedakarna, @aryawedakarna, who reposted the @kuatbaca post around 18:55 WITA on Instagram and Facebook. AWK’s account reposted it with the added caption “I wonder where the perpetrator is from…”.
AWK then provided an explanation regarding the reposting of the content. He claimed to have coordinated with YS’s reporter and the Pena Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) organisation. AWK also issued a clarification and apology.
“And from the admin team earlier, they have clarified that it was only a repost, without mentioning any specific ethnic group, right, in that regard,” said AWK when met at the DPD RI Bali Provincial Office on Monday (30/3/2026).
AWK revealed that in the mediation process, it was also agreed upon the need to improve standard operating procedures (SOP) in responding to information on social media. He also conveyed his public apology.
“In the future, if there is news related to us, we will reconfirm and clarify again. Then, including the second point, I have publicly expressed my apology if there was any disturbance like that; it’s already settled,” explained AWK.
AWK also supported the journalists’ plan to report the @kuatbaca post to the Press Council. According to him, if the news has been shared, it becomes the responsibility of the media that published it.
“If, for example, the news has been shared on online social media, then it’s the responsibility of the media that created it, that’s why I support the journalists’ friends in reporting @kuatbaca to the Press Council,” clarified AWK.