A resident of Springfield, Ohio, who first spread rumors that Haitian immigrants were stealing and eating pets in the city has admitted to never witnessing such an act.
The false rumor began on social media on September 5 when a user named Erika Lee posted in a private Facebook group called Springfield Ohio Crime & Information. In her post, Lee recounted a story she had heard from her neighbor, Kimberly Newton, who claimed that a friend of her daughter’s had found her cat hanging from a tree near the home of a Haitian family, “like a deer to be butchered.”
It quickly became apparent that the story had no factual basis
Contacted by NewsGuard, a company that combats online misinformation, Erika Lee admitted, as reported by The Daily Beast, that she had not witnessed the incident herself. She was merely repeating what her neighbor had told her. Kimberly Newton also admitted uncertainty about the veracity of the story, which she had heard secondhand. “I’m not sure I’m the most credible source because I don’t really know the person who lost the cat,” Newton stated. She added, “I have no proof,” according to The Daily Beast.
It is important to note that neither Lee nor Newton ever confirmed the incident. Their claims were simply the transmission of a rumor that escalated without any factual support. Local authorities and Springfield police have repeatedly denied the allegations, stating there is no credible evidence of pet abduction or abuse by members of the immigrant community.
Misinformation with National Impact
Although the rumor was quickly discredited locally, it continued to spread nationally, fueled by political agendas.
Lee’s claim moved from Facebook to X (formerly Twitter), where it was shared by a conservative user named BuckeyeGirrl. This account, with over 2,100 followers, posted a screenshot of Lee’s message, causing the rumor to gain further traction.
Within days, the false claim caught the attention of prominent political figures. Ohio Republican Senator JD Vance amplified the rumor by tweeting that, although the details might “turn out to be false,” they still represented a real danger to “suffering Americans.”
The tweet sparked a wave of reactions on social media, with some users posting AI-generated images of Donald Trump protecting cats and ducks, while Elon Musk sarcastically compared the situation to a scene from The Simpsons.
The controversy peaked when Donald Trump’s campaign issued a press release ahead of the presidential debate, falsely claiming that Haitian migrants “were allegedly caught decapitating ducks, hunting geese and other animals in public parks, and even kidnapping pets to eat.”
The speed with which this baseless rumor spread, and its amplification by political figures, is alarming. It demonstrates how unverified information can influence political discourse and deepen societal polarization. Despite the complete lack of factual basis, the rumor was used as a political tool to stigmatize a vulnerable communities in the United States.
Erika Lee, the originator of the Facebook post, expressed surprise at the attention her comments had garnered. In an interview with NewsGuard, as reported by The Daily Beast, she said, “I was shocked to see Mr. Trump repeat a statement I made on social media.” However, she admitted that she hadn’t followed the story’s developments or verified the facts. “I haven’t really followed the news on this. I just saw it on Facebook and what others were sharing,” she said.
The case of Springfield, Ohio, is a striking example of how misinformation can quickly spread online, often originating from unverified sources or word-of-mouth accounts. Such misinformation is particularly harmful when it targets minority groups, as it can fuel hatred, fear, and mistrust toward these populations.
Haitian migrants, already facing significant challenges regarding integration and rights recognition, found themselves at the center of a media storm based entirely on falsehoods. This stigmatization can have serious repercussions, including fostering anti-immigrant sentiment and creating tension within local communities.
The White House, through National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby, condemned the spread of false information for political purposes, warning that it could seriously harm minority groups in the United States.
Springfield’s local authorities were forced to quickly step in to calm tensions and debunk the false claims. However, in today’s social media-driven world, where rumors can spread rapidly to millions, countering such misinformation remains a significant challenge.
Credit: This article is based on reports from The Daily Beast and NewsGuard tracing the spread of the false rumors about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio.