Erika Lee, a 35-year-old resident of Springfield, Ohio, has come forward to clarify her role in spreading a viral rumor that Haitian migrants in her town were eating pet cats and dogs. The rumor, which ignited a firestorm on social media, was based on a Facebook post Erika Lee shared, where she recounted a story she heard from a neighbor about a missing pet cat found outside a Haitian family’s home. However, Erika Lee now admits that she had no firsthand knowledge of the incident and regrets the confusion and fear it caused.
“I never intended for this to go beyond my local community,”Erika Lee told NBC News. “It just exploded into something I didn’t mean to happen.” She has since deleted the original post, but not before it sparked widespread panic and even made its way into political discussions, including a reference during a presidential debate. Despite no reports being filed with local authorities about pets being eaten, the rumor had already spiraled out of control on social media platforms, leading to significant backlash.
The Origins of the Viral Rumor: A Misunderstanding Escalates
The controversy began when Erika Lee posted in a local Facebook group, claiming that her neighbor, Kimberly Newton, had informed her about a cat found strung up outside a Haitian family’s home. The post quickly gained traction, especially when Erika Lee added that she had been told by rangers and police that Haitian migrants were allegedly butchering animals at Snyder Park. Screenshots of her warnings soon circulated on X (formerly Twitter), causing panic and outrage, particularly within conservative circles.
However, upon further investigation, both Erika Lee and Newton admitted that they had no direct evidence to support these claims. Newton, when contacted by NewsGuard, clarified that she had heard the story from an acquaintance, who in turn had heard it from another source. “I don’t actually know the person who lost the cat,” Newton said. “I don’t have any proof.” The lack of credible evidence did little to stop the spread of the rumor, which had already taken on a life of its own.
Regret and Backlash: Erika Lee Faces Fear for Her Safety
As the rumor gained national attention, Erika Lee expressed regret for her actions, emphasizing that she never intended to target the Haitian community. “I feel awful that it’s gotten to this point,” Erika Lee said, adding that she had deleted the post in an attempt to stop the spread of misinformation. However, the damage had already been done, with social media users continuing to share the false claims.
The situation has left Erika Lee fearing for her safety. “I never thought something like this would happen,” she told reporters. The fear is compounded by the fact that the rumor was linked to other disturbing content, including a widely circulated video of an American woman allegedly eating a cat, which was falsely attributed to Haitian Erika Lee’s case underscores the dangers of misinformation on social media, where unverified claims can quickly escalate into full-blown conspiracy theories with real-world consequences. Local authorities have since confirmed that no incidents involving pets being butchered have been reported.
Springfield Officials Dismiss Pet Harm Rumors as Baseless
City officials in Springfield, Ohio, have responded to widespread rumors suggesting that local pets are being harmed by members of the immigrant community. These rumors, circulating heavily on social media, have raised concerns among residents. However, authorities have emphasized that there is no evidence to support such claims.
In an official statement, city leaders said, “In response to recent rumors alleging criminal activity by the immigrant population in our city, we wish to clarify that there have been no credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured, or abused by individuals within the immigrant community.” The statement came after growing online discussions speculated that Haitian immigrants were responsible for abducting and mistreating pets in Springfield. Ohio authorities have reiterated that no reports have been filed, leaving them with nothing to investigate. Despite this, the rumor has gained considerable traction online.
Republican Leaders Amplify Unfounded Claims
The baseless rumor gained national attention when key Republican figures, including Senator JD Vance and former President Donald Trump, mentioned it during public forums. Vance took to social media, posting on his X account (formerly Twitter), “Months ago, I raised the issue of Haitian illegal immigrants draining social services and generally causing chaos all over Springfield, Ohio. Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn’t be in this country. Where is our border czar?”
A day later, during a nationally televised debate viewed by 67 million Americans, Trump echoed similar sentiments, giving further prominence to the unsubstantiated claims. This marked the first time the rumor had escalated to such a level of political discourse.
The origin of the rumor has been traced back to social media posts by Springfield resident Erika Lee, who expressed her surprise at how quickly her Facebook post had spiraled out of control. “Honestly, it blew me away,” Lee told NewsGuard. “I didn’t think that any of this would explode to the presidency.” Despite the attention her post received, Lee admitted she hadn’t followed the developments closely. “I’ve only really seen it like on Facebook, what things pop up on my news feed, or what other people have shared on things that they have read up on,” she explained, adding that her intention was simply to inform people, not to generalize the entire Haitian community.
