Karim Mahfouf is known to be the father of the influencer Lena Situations. However, he is actually a professional puppeteer by trade. During an appearance on the show Clique in 2021, alongside his daughter Lena, he recounted how he stumbled into this profession almost by chance: “I had the chance to meet the Compagnie des 3 Chardons… Puppeteer by trade, I had never made puppets, let’s go for it!”
Twenty years later, it is precisely this adventure that he is trying to preserve. On Instagram, “Papa Situations” has made a moving appeal for donations to help the threatened Compagnie 3 Chardons, on the brink of disappearing due to lack of funding.
Accumulated debts since Covid
Facing his puppet Boubam, Karim Mahfouf chose to make this difficult announcement, addressing his loyal stage partner directly: “Boubam, I’m sorry but we won’t be going on tour this September.” “Since Covid, debts have piled up, and despite all our efforts, the coffers are empty today,” he explains in his video.
In response to this critical situation, Karim Mahfouf has launched a donation appeal through a fund on the Ulule platform. “Every donation, no matter how small, is a breath of life for the company and one more star in the eyes of thousands of children,” he writes, urging his community to mobilize to “sustain this wonderful human and artistic adventure.”
Lena Situations draws criticism
While many internet users have shown sympathy and sadness for him, others have been less forgiving. Indeed, many have pointed out that Lena Situations is considered “the richest influencer in France” and that he could have approached her instead of unknown individuals.
Thus, comments on this matter have included: “His family is multimillionaire and he comes asking us?” “His daughter is too stingy to go through the checkout despite a 66% tax deduction?” or “She will use the checkbook for her dad and not take advantage of the kindness of donors who do not have her income.” For now, neither the influencer nor her father has responded to this wave of criticism.
