A University of Pennsylvania student named Eliana Atienza was kicked off campus for participating in an anti-Israel encampment. She claimed to be homeless with no one to turn to for help in the US. Atienza comes from a wealthy Filipino family, with her father, Kim Atienza, being a prominent media personality in the Philippines. Her mother, Felicia Atienza, is an international school president and CEO who graduated from the Wharton Business School.
The Atienza family is known for flaunting their wealth on social media, showcasing their extravagant lifestyle that includes an extensive motorcycle collection, first-class flights with private showers and caviar service, and hobnobbing with celebrities. Despite claiming to be destitute, Atienza has gone on trips to Antarctica, Alaska, and Paris, as seen on her social media posts. However, she insisted that UPenn administrators had left her homeless in the US with no family to turn to.
Atienza was suspended along with five other students for participating in the anti-Israel encampment, which aimed to protest Israel and its war against Hamas after a terror attack on Oct. 7. Police intervened to break up the protest on campus. Atienza was involved in negotiations with school administrators over divesting from Israel-related investments. She is also a member of Fossil Free Penn, which supports Palestinians fighting against Israeli Occupation, as seen in a letter co-signed by the organization.
Despite her family’s wealth and extravagant lifestyle, Atienza presented herself as helpless and without support after being removed from campus. Her social media posts contradict her claims of being homeless, as they show her traveling to various exotic locations around the world. Atienza did not respond to requests for comment on the situation.
