Unfortunately, whenever someone goes viral online for doing something bad, people rush to try to dox them. This haste might result in the wrong person getting doxxed and attacked. This is exactly what happened to a poor Texas woman who shared a video breaking down. It all started when a Black family and a White family had an argument at a parade in Louisiana. The White family included racist people and one of them even spilled beer on a grandmother from the other family. This made internet users try to dox individuals from the family. This is where the confusion came from. A woman from the family had a very similar name to the Texas woman. Plus, both of them own a photography business. This is why many attacked the Texas woman mistaking her for the racist individual.
This mistaken identity situation made the Texas woman share the heartbreaking video to clarify the situation. According to her, the aftermath “rocked” her world. “I wasn’t even involved,” she said. The woman then identified herself as Shelby T. Rhodes and said that she owned a photography business. She then addressed everyone involved in the Louisiana situation as she said, “I’m not Shelby Hagman Rhodes.” The event affected Shelby deeply to the point where she was speaking through her tears. She shared that she had been receiving horrible messages that included death threats. People also threatened that they would destroy her business. Despite this hatred, Shelby told them, “I forgive you. I know you don’t understand.”
Shelby then repeated again that she wasn’t the same person and that she would never do anything like what had happened. “I’m not racist,” she stated. “I’m a God-loving grandmother of my own. So if you would please stop attacking me, stop destroying what I work so hard for,” she added. Shelby also reminded people of Proverbs 10:12 saying, “Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrong things.” It was clear that she had a lot of love in her heart even though she was met with hate. The Texas woman then revealed that a “nice man” called her that morning to attack her. When she called him back and explained the situation, he actually tried to help her make it better so that people would know she wasn’t the racist person from Louisiana.
As the video neared its end, Shelby even said that she would be praying for both families involved. She later shared another video telling the victims that she would always be in her prayers from now on. Thankfully, she looked a lot better in this video so hopefully the threats have stopped. Shelby also shared that her business wasn’t hurt since people in her community know her. She should never have received this kind of backlash.
People Reacting to the Texas Woman’s Story
A lot of people were left heartbroken by what happened to the Texas woman. The video reached the Black Louisiana family who was attacked and all of them felt deeply troubled that Shelby was being threatened. This is why one woman from the family wrote, “I’m speaking for my grandmother & my family‼ You are NOT being ATTACKED BY ME OR MY FAMILY‼ I am so sorry they they’re tearing down you and your business‼ Me & my family had NOTHING to do with this. We’ve never posted you or your name so please know that we’d never allow anything like this‼! WE ARE JUST NOW FINDING OUT THAT THEY’RE ATTACKING YOU & WE HOPE TO CLEAR THIS UP FOR YOU.” She left another comment under Shelby’s second video saying:
“Thank you, Shelby, for updating everyone. We are still so apologetic toward you, as you were wrongly identified in a terrible attack. My family wishes you nothing but the best. You are loved. We hear you, we see you, and we will never forget about you. Once this settles, I’m sure my grandmother would love to talk to you. She cried real tears when she learned that people were attacking you.”
Aside from the Louisiana family sympathizing with Shelby, many people also left comments supporting her. “This is why DOXXING is so dangerous!” one person wrote. They have got a point. Another person believed that Shelby should sue those who attacked her as they wrote, “GET AN ATTORNEY AND START SUEING EVERY PERSON WHO WRONGFULLY DID YOU WRONG. WE HAVE LAWS WHICH PROTECT US FROM THIS SORT OF ACTION.” Someone else said, “Coming here to support you. Mistaken identity can be life-wrecking and I send you much love and strength as I hope people on the internet to try to correct their wrongdoings.” What matters is that people are now sending love toward Shelby and she deserves all of it.
