( CNN ) Few parents are delighted to learn that their daughter is a porn star , even a highly successful one . But for 21-year-old Mia Khalifa of Florida , a family dispute has taken on international dimensions . Khalifa is PornHub 's highest-ranked adult star . But she is also Lebanese-born -- and her chosen line of work has not only disappointed her parents but generated huge controversy in her native country . The debate has gained such a head of steam that some Arab news outlets published a family statement this week condemning Khalifa 's actions and expressing the family 's regret about her fame as a porn star . She is also criticized for her tattoo , in Arabic , of the opening lines of the Lebanese National Anthem . `` We are probably paying the price of living away from our homeland ; our kids had to adapt to societies that do n't resemble our culture , traditions and values , '' the family statement said . `` Hence , we emphasize that we disassociate ourselves from her actions which do not reflect her family beliefs , her upbringing or her true Lebanese roots . We hope that she comes back to her senses as her image does not honor her family or her homeland -- Lebanon . '' According to the statement , Khalifa , born in 1993 , moved with her family to the United States in 2000 . They left behind them one of the more liberal countries in the Middle East but one where religion plays a central , sometimes divisive , role in daily life and many are deeply socially conservative . Having turned 18 , Khalifa left home , the statement says , `` as is common in the West . She married an American guy in February 2011 and is currently living with him in Florida . Mia has since lost contact with her family . '' Despite the family rift , Khalifa has been doing well for herself . And she 's been fighting back against the criticism on her Twitter feed , which has more than 100,000 followers ( and contains some slightly NSFW content ) . She writes : `` @ borenstein_alex : @ miakhalifa how do we achieve peace in the Middle East ? '' Stop talking about pornstars that are n't living in your country '' But many critics continue to voice their disgust on Twitter . `` I am a Palestinian patriot and what you are doing is shameful , '' one person wrote . Another says her head should be cut off for what she 's doing . And that 's far from the only death threat she 's received . She posted a doctored photo that appeared to show her as a prisoner of ISIS . At the same time , she has many online supporters . British-Lebanese author and publisher Nasri Atallah posted at length in her defense on his Facebook page . `` The moral indignation about Mia Khalifa , presumably the first Lebanese pornstar , is wrong for two reasons . First and foremost , as a woman , she is free to do as she pleases with her body , '' he wrote . `` Secondly , as a sentient human being with agency , who lives halfway across the world she is in charge of her own life and owes absolutely nothing to the country where she happened to be born . There is this odd perception that being Lebanese is a vocation and a duty first and that your personal life comes second . '' And like Khalifah , Atallah believes the fevered interest her actions have stirred back home is unwarranted . `` For the record , I do n't think we should be particularly proud of Mia Khalifa , we should just be indifferent . She 's doing a job she chose , in a regulated industry , no different to banking . Actually , it 's probably more regulated than banking . `` I certainly do n't think she 's our last frontier against ISIS as some have suggested . She is a 21-year old in Florida who has made a decision for herself , with absolutely no wider implications . '' Another boost came from American duo Timeflies , who recorded a song about her this week , posted to their Twitter feed . It 's already proven pretty popular with her fans , with several posting that , together , she and the band `` broke the internet . '' And Khalifa herself remains defiant in the face of the trolls . `` How does it feel to be the most hated arab at the moment ? '' she wrote . `` Pretty good since @ Timeflies wrote a song about me . '' CNN 's Joseph Netto contributed to this report .
' Khalifa moved with her family from Lebanon to the United States as a child . ` ` We are probably paying the price of living away from our homeland , '' her mother says .