[Feminicide of Danaa Malabar] The Tragedy of a Love Displayed on TikTok, Shattered by Violence

Behind the smiles, romantic songs, and heartwarming videos shared on TikTok, the reality of Danaa Laeticia Malabar was starkly different. Three days after her disappearance, this 25-year-old mother was found dead Wednesday morning in an abandoned house in Curepipe. Her husband, Brandon Malabar, a TikToker with thousands of followers, admitted to stabbing her before leaving her there. This tragedy, which unfolded in the silence of a troubled home, highlights the brutal contrast between the idealized images shared online and the domestic violence that can lurk behind closed doors.

On social media, the couple appeared united and inseparable. They danced, laughed, and shared tender moments. This online image had earned them some fame and a community convinced they were witnessing the daily life of a happy couple. However, away from the cameras, tensions were mounting. According to her relatives, Danaa was in a toxic relationship. The public facade sharply contrasted with the reality of her day-to-day life: that of a woman facing jealousy, violence, and the control of her partner.

To her family, Danaa was "the embodiment of kindness." "She was so naïve. She believed in love, and she was a faithful woman who stayed at home, cared for her mother-in-law and children, and only went out with her husband. Yet after her murder, he tarnished her reputation and lied a lot about her," her aunt confides.

On Sunday, October 12, after yet another argument, Danaa left her mother’s home with her husband. That would be the last time she was seen alive. While her loved ones searched for her, Brandon posted a video on TikTok, making a plea for help and asking his followers to share the message. This gesture, which went viral, now appears to be an attempt to deflect suspicion.

A few days later, he confessed. He claimed he did not intend to kill her and referred to it as a "moment of anger" and a loss of control. But the facts are clear: Danaa was stabbed twice. Her body was found abandoned in a deserted building, far from the tumult of the social media world where they often showcased their relationship.

According to her aunt, the family was aware of the difficulties in the couple’s relationship. Danaa had been advised multiple times to leave her husband after fights. "He played his role as a nice guy very well. He knew how to convince her, and she believed him," she shares. She also recalls noticing a large bruise on Danaa’s arm in an online video—a sign that deeply concerned her, which she promptly reported to her sister, the victim's mother.

"He’s a good actor. He showed everyone that everything was fine, but we knew there were problems," she adds. For the family, the shock remains immense: "We see these stories on television, on social media, but when it happens to you, it's a very, very difficult ordeal." She is now calling on women to recognize the signs of danger and not to confuse love with control: "It’s not love when someone beats you, controls you, and makes you suffer. You need to leave!"

Danaa’s murder is not an isolated case. It reflects a too-frequent reality: that of women trapped in violent relationships, where fear and shame silence them. Her loved ones mention recurring arguments, constant tensions, and signs that, as often happens, were ignored or minimized.

This tragedy serves as a reminder that social media, by magnifying filtered and idealized lives, can conceal situations of distress. Sometimes, they create an illusion of happiness that obscures warning signs. Behind the staged scenes, pain becomes invisible.

The case of Danaa Malabar raises profound questions about the perception and handling of domestic violence. Awareness campaigns exist, helplines are in place, but many victims continue to suffer in silence. In Mauritius, as elsewhere, the normalization of violent behavior in relationships remains a major cultural and social problem.

Danaa leaves behind two children who will forever be marked by this terrible tragedy.