World of Secrets: Death in Dubai

Episode 5: The Reality of ‘Porta Potty’

BBC, aired October 13, 2025
Host: Renaco Salina

Overview

In this gripping installment of World of Secrets, Renaco Salina delves into the real-world horrors behind the viral “Dubai Porta Potty” phenomenon and the tragic death of Ugandan influencer Monica “Mona Kizz” Karunji. This episode exposes how lurid online myths mask darker, systemic exploitation and abuse of migrant women, unspooling the threads of racism, misogyny, and digital witch-hunts. The story moves from internet rumor mills to personal recollections from Monica’s friends and family, and survivor testimony, all the way to the silent corners of a Dubai cemetery where unclaimed bodies lie.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Surveillance of “Abby” and the Sex Work Operation in Dubai

• [01:08–02:34] Renaco and her team track Charles Mwesigwa, known as “Abby,” a suspected trafficker. They observe him moving women and continuing the operation Monica was once part of.
  • “It looks like he’s still running this operation. This is World of Secrets, Season 9, Death in Dubai.” — Renaco Salina [02:34]

2. Monica’s Social Media, Death, and Internet Shaming

• [03:36–05:09] Renaco reviews the toxic deluge of commentary following Monica’s death and the viral spread of the Porta Potty rumors.

  • “Shit happens. She’s a hoe.” — Social media comment, read by Renaco [04:17]
  • “It’s nobody’s fault but their own. These parents must really be suffering to discover their daughter’s debauched life. I feel their pain.” — Another social media comment [04:29]

• Monica’s niece, Rhona, released a video to counter the online lies:

  • “She was like an influencer that she have killed her. So they should stop talking too much about her because they don’t know what exactly happened.” — Rhona [05:09]

3. The Role of Social Media and Internet Sleuths

• [05:41–08:48] Interview with TikTok content creator Riley Mobbs, who spread rumors about Monica but couldn’t substantiate them.
  • “I’m not able to confirm almost anything in this story because there was not any official news sources… The Internet is, like I said, it's the wild wild west.” — Riley Mobbs [08:02–08:48]
• Riley admits the viral narrative was built on speculation, not facts, and expresses conflict over the role of online sleuthing.

4. The Origins and Spread of the Porta Potty Narrative

• [08:48–09:46] Renaco traces the ‘Porta Potty’ story back to 2003 Dave Chappelle jokes and an R. Kelly scandal, noting how over time it became intertwined with shaming women, especially those showing luxury lifestyles online.

  • "By this definition, half the women on Instagram must be Porta Potties. The whole thing feels like a digital witch hunt." — Renaco Salina [10:44]

• [10:11–12:57] The narrative mutates through Urban Dictionary, Instagram “callout” accounts, and hostile forums like 4chan—targeting not only women but also stoking racist stereotyping against Arab men.

  • “We need to get this out to the mainstream, make the public hate these filthy Arabs.” — 4chan post read by an actor [12:10]

• Prominent Emirati TikTokers push back, calling the rumor racist:

  • “You are generalizing every Arab man in Dubai. This is not only racist, but it is disgusting.” — Emirati TikToker [12:32]

5. Real-World Abuse and the Spectrum of “Porta Potty” Experiences

• [13:46–17:54] Survivor Lexi recounts being tricked into the UAE for sex work, subjected to racist, degrading, and dangerous propositions.

  • “He’s like, if it is a yes, we can buy ice cream cones, shit in them, and we watch you eat. … 5000 if you will eat our shit. While we are recording you.” — Lexi [14:46]
  • “They want somebody who is going to cry and scream and run. And that somebody should be a black person.” — Lexi [15:27]

• Lexi called the police repeatedly for help, but met with racist dismissal:

  • “You Africans cause problems for each other. We don’t want to get involved.” — Lexi quoting Dubai police [16:41]

• Monica’s friend Mia confirms at least one client of Abby's had these extreme fetishes; refusal often brought violence or force:

  • “Abby would force you. You dare refuse… but forcing people to do that kind of shit. Eat poo.” — Mia [17:43]

6. The Lasting Harm of Online Harassment

• [17:54–18:33] The investigation finds no evidence Monica participated in such acts, but “the Internet didn’t need any,” and continues to hunt women as pariahs.

  • “The witch hunt mentality meant that she was labelled as the Porta Potty Girl.” — Renaco [18:03]

• [19:35–20:11] Riley Mobbs pledges to use his platform to correct the narrative about Monica:

  • “I definitely would make a follow up video, especially with all the new information we have… Absolutely.” — Riley Mobbs [20:02]

7. The Search for Monica’s Final Resting Place

• [20:37–28:49] Renaco investigates where Monica was buried after the family couldn’t afford to repatriate her remains. With help, they locate her burial date and site—Al Qusai Cemetery, in an “unknowns” section.
• The team encounters locked gates and security, underscoring the isolation of unclaimed migrant workers even in death.
  • “The way she’s been remembered online and the fact that even here, like, it’s just like her whole legacy is just reduced to like what? God, it’s just horrible, really. Locked away. Even in death, Monica’s trapped.” — Renaco Salina [30:38]

8. Ongoing Investigation & Next Steps

• [32:30–end] The episode closes with the team preparing to go undercover to get close to Abby, the suspected trafficker and organizer, in the hope of exposing his operation and obtaining justice for Monica.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On internet rumor culture:
  “If you don't know everything, the Internet's going to try to come fill the pieces or fill the missing links in ... you could be spreading false information without even knowing.”
  — Riley Mobbs [08:02]

• On digital misogyny:
  “By this definition, half the women on Instagram must be Porta Potties. The whole thing feels like a digital witch hunt.”
  — Renaco Salina [10:44]

• On racism in exploitation:
  “They want somebody who is going to cry and scream and run. And that somebody should be a black person.”
  — Lexi [15:27]

• On family closure:
  “Even if she died in pieces, then we should want our pieces to bury in her country. Just we need to bring her back in her motherland.”
  — Mia, Monica’s friend [20:37]

• On Monica’s legacy:
  “Locked away. Even in death, Monica’s trapped. Even in her final resting place, she’s not free. And her family needs answers.”
  — Renaco Salina [30:38]

Important Timestamps

• [01:08] – Warning about disturbing content and start of surveillance on Abby.
• [04:16] – Reading of venomous online comments after Monica’s death.
• [05:41] – Interview with TikTok true crime content creator Riley Mobbs.
• [08:48] – Tracing the origin of Dubai Porta Potty narrative.
• [14:46] – Lexi describes the explicit and degrading proposition from a client.
• [16:41] – Lexi recounts police indifference to her pleas for help.
• [20:37] – The family’s yearning for Monica’s burial site and Renaco’s search.
• [27:12] – Scenes at the cemetery in search of Monica’s grave.
• [30:38] – Renaco’s emotional reflection on Monica’s tragic fate and legacy.

Tone & Language

The episode blends investigative rigor with empathy and urgency, frequently shifting between gritty, unflinching testimony and personal ordeal, while maintaining a clear-eyed focus on systemic injustice.

For Listeners

This episode is crucial for understanding how social and digital narratives can obscure, rather than reveal, the real abuses behind viral scandals—and why the truth, dignity, and memory of victims like Monica Karunji matter. It confronts the digital witch hunts and racist exploitation tied to the Dubai “Porta Potty” story, and spotlights those fighting for truth and justice, even when the world looks away.

Next Episode Preview

Renaco and her undercover team attempt to get closer to Abby, aiming to confront him and document his role in ongoing exploitation, promising more revelations and an opportunity for exposure and justice.