Ohio Resident Regrets False Social Media Post Blaming Haitian Immigrants for Eating Pets

A Springfield, Ohio woman, Erika Lee, whose social media post helped spread a false claim that Haitian immigrants were stealing and eating local pets, has expressed deep regret and apologised for the harm caused to the Haitian community.

Speaking to NBC News on Friday night, Lee said, “It just exploded into something I didn’t mean to happen.”

Lee’s now-deleted Facebook post, which falsely alleged that her neighbour’s missing cat was butchered and eaten by a Haitian resident, gained rapid traction online. She admitted she had no first-hand knowledge of the incident and was merely repeating information from a neighbour who had heard the story second-hand.

The rumour, which began in Springfield, quickly spread nationwide, especially after being amplified by public figures, including former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator JD Vance.

Lee, 35, said she never intended for the post to go beyond her local community. “I’m not a racist,” she told NBC News, explaining that she is of mixed race and a member of the LGBTQ community. “Everybody seems to be turning it into that, and that was not my intent.”

Former President Donald Trump repeated the baseless claim that Haitians immigrants were eating pets during Tuesday’s debate with Vice President Kamala Harris. AFP via Getty Images

The baseless claims have led to widespread disinformation, with unrelated viral images and videos being falsely connected to Haitian immigrants. Despite repeated denials from police and local officials, the rumours have escalated tensions in Springfield, which is home to around 20,000 Haitian migrants. Several schools and offices were forced to close due to bomb threats in the wake of the media attention.

Lee expressed empathy for the Haitian community, stating, “If I was in the Haitians’ position, I’d be terrified, too,” and reiterated that causing fear or harm was never her intention.