Global InformationJessi Slaughter cyberbullying case information
The Jessi Slaughter cyberbullying case was an American criminal case that revolved around an 11-year-old named Jessica Leonhardt (known online as "Jessi Slaughter" and "Kerligirl13"), whose profanity-laden videos went viral on Stickam and YouTube in 2010. The videos were made in response to accusations that a friend had raped Leonhardt, and that Leonhardt had a sexual relationship with the lead singer of the electropop band Blood on the Dance Floor, a man named Dahvie Vanity (real name Jesus David Torres) while Leonhardt was a minor.[1] This resulted in a campaign of telephone and internet harassment against Leonhardt and their family, chiefly attributed to the Blood on the Dance Floor fanbase on 4chan as well as alleged members of the internet-based group Anonymous.[2] It began a debate about the dangers of anonymity on the Internet, and whether or not the Internet is a safe environment for minors, and all people in general.[3][4][5]
Leonhardt told The Independent in 2016: "I wouldn't even call what happened to me cyberbullying, it was straight up harassment and stalking. It started out as cyberbullying but it quickly evolved." Vanity has repeatedly denied all of the allegations against him. He has also denied knowing Leonhardt or any of the other victims that have accused him of sexual assault, rape, and child molestation and has stated that Leonhardt had a mental illness.[6] The song "You Done Goofed" from the Blood on the Dance Floor album Epic is about Leonhardt and Vanity's alleged experiences with them.[7]
Leonhardt later came out as transgender and non-binary, and started going by the name Damien Leonhardt.[8] In 2018, they accused Vanity of child sexual abuse and rape in a post on social media site Tumblr during their alleged relationship, when Leonhardt was 10 years old.[9] One year later, an additional 21 women accused Vanity of sexual assault, child molestation, and rape, with many of them saying the attacks took place while they were under the age of consent.[10]
- ^ "Death threat viral star 'to keep making videos'". 9News. Australia. July 23, 2010. Archived from the original on May 10, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
- ^ Canning, Andrea; Netter, Sarah; Crews, Josey (July 22, 2020). "'Jessi Slaughter' Says Death Threats Won't Stop Her From Posting Videos on the Internet". Good Morning America. ABC News. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
- ^ Chen, Adrian (July 16, 2010). "How the Internet Beat Up an 11-Year-Old Girl". Gawker. Archived from the original on January 11, 2013. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
- ^ Braiker, Brian (July 22, 2010). "Viral Cyberbullying: Who's to Blame for Jessi Slaughter's Online Infamy". ABC News. Archived from the original on October 15, 2013. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
- ^ Hartstein, Jennifer (July 22, 2010). "Ranting 11-Year-Old Goes Viral". The Early Show. CBS News. Archived from the original on July 24, 2010. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
- ^ "This person became a meme and it ruined their life". The Independent. March 31, 2016. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
- ^ Tenbarge, Kat (July 2, 2020). "Myspace-famous musician Dahvie Vanity was accused of child sex abuse for years. Now the FBI is involved". Insider. Archived from the original on July 14, 2020. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
Torres also capitalized on the firestorm against Leonhardt and their family with a song titled "You Done Goofed"
- ^ Gunz, Rafaella (August 20, 2017). "Damien Leonhardt was once the subject of a viral video, now she's trans and proud". Gay Star News. Archived from the original on November 28, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
- ^ Tenbarge, Kat (July 2, 2020). "Myspace-famous musician Dahvie Vanity was accused of child sex abuse for years. Now the FBI is involved". Insider. Archived from the original on May 24, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
- ^ Cook, Jesselyn (April 4, 2019). "Dahvie Vanity Raped A Child. Police Gave Him A Warning. Now 21 Women Accuse Him Of Sexual Assault". HuffPost. Archived from the original on October 13, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2021.