Zoella Snapchat: YouTube vlogger defends underwear photo after backlash from 'morons'

Zoella has responded to the backlash she has received for posting a photo of herself in underwear. Some claimed the photo, which was shared on Snapchat, was inappropriate given the YouTube vlogger's young fanbase but the online star says her critics should focus on more important issues.

In the photo, Zoella, real name Zoe Sugg, can be seen lying on her bed while flashing the peace sign with the caption "goodnight". The vlogger wears a white high-neck jumper which is slightly pulled up to reveal her Calvin Klein knickers. One critic slammed the image, tweeting: "I think you need to take your CK Knickers off snapchat. My 15-year-old sister looks up to you."

With a screenshot of an article reporting on the scandal, Zoella responded via Twitter telling her followers: "Bloody morons. Writing about my PJ's when there are SERIOUS things happening all over the world. SMH." She added to a fan who showed support: "I think i've shown more in a legs bath pic! haha."

One fan agreed with the YouTube star, commenting in reference to the terrorism attacks in Brussels: "More than 30 died in Brussels today, but the press write stories about @Zoella in her underwear? Priorities?" While another said with sarcasm: "Wow so @Zoella wears underwear big shock that's so a shock that a normal girl wears underwear." One other supporter chimed in: "1. She wears a top, not just underwear 2. How pathetic can it get to post this when there's worse things goin on RN??"

With more than 10 million subscribers watching her YouTube channel and 4.4 million fans following her on Twitter, Zoella, 25, has previously admitted to feeling a responsibility to be a role model for her young audience. She told OK! magazine in 2015: "Definitely, especially because it wasn't something I ever set out to do. But I just carry on being myself and making people happy and that's the most you can do really, because if you think about it too much, it can freak you out a little bit. It's really cool though, and lovely."

In November 2014, Zoella and her boyfriend Alfie Deyes, also known as Pointless Blog, took a break from the Internet after it was revealed she used a ghostwriter to pen her debut novel Girl Online.

Watch Zoella's Easter Lush Haul: