Ohio Mother Faces Death Threats Over Misunderstood Video Incident

An Ohio mother, Michelle Bishop, is speaking out after receiving numerous death threats following a viral video that falsely labeled her as "racist." The controversy began when her neighbor, DaMichael Jenkins, posted Ring camera footage showing Bishop at his doorstep in distress, mistakenly believing she was being followed. Bishop claims the incident was a “massive misunderstanding” that escalated after the video gained traction on social media.

The incident occurred in November in Delaware County when Bishop and her children were out for a jog. Feeling threatened by a slow-moving vehicle behind her, she sought refuge at Jenkins' home, unaware of his race. The footage caught her questioning Jenkins' claim that he lived there before running to another house for help. Jenkins later stated that he was simply admiring Christmas lights.

Following the video's circulation, Bishop received hundreds of threats, including graphic and violent messages aimed at her and her family. She described the ongoing situation as devastating, impacting both her family and their businesses. Although Bishop attempted to apologize to the Jenkins family, they have reportedly not accepted her apology.

Bishop reiterated that her panic stemmed from a protective instinct for her children and emphasized that she had no knowledge of Jenkins’ race during the encounter. She expressed a desire to reconcile with the Jenkins family, stating that “love can cover a multitude of things” and hopes to address the misunderstanding in a constructive manner.