By Dajiya Blackwell, a 22-year-old Philadelphia social media influencer known as “Meatball,” has been sentenced to five years of probation and 150 hours of community service for her role in livestreaming a looting spree in October 2023. Blackwell, who has nearly 100,000 Instagram followers, avoided jail time but must pay a $10,000 fine as part of her sentencing.
The influencer was charged with multiple offenses including burglary, conspiracy, criminal trespass, and riot after broadcasting herself participating in widespread looting that erupted following a judge’s dismissal of charges against a former police officer who had shot and killed Eddie Irizarry, a 27-year-old man pulled over for “driving erratically.”
Blackwell took to social media to celebrate her sentencing, sharing clips of herself smiling and saying, “Never coming back to this place again!” She also thanked her lawyer and supporters, stating, “If it wasn’t for y’all, I’d probably be gone.”
Her attorney, Jessica Mann, criticized the media’s portrayal of Blackwell, accusing them of participating in “an all-out assault on black and brown people.” Mann particularly objected to the publication of Blackwell’s mugshot showing her with “tears streaming down her face and her hair a mess.”
Following her arrest in October, Blackwell had controversially asked her fans to help pay for her legal fees and promoted her clothing brand. Despite the backlash, Blackwell used her mugshot as her social media profile picture.
The case has sparked discussions about social media’s role in civil unrest, the treatment of influencers in the justice system, and racial dynamics in media coverage of such incidents.
