A viral social media post shared in the aftermath of Karmelo Anthony’s murder conviction is spreading misinformation, falsely identifying a YouTube commentator as the teen’s mother and attributing inflammatory remarks to her that were never made.
The post, which has garnered millions of views across X and other platforms, claims to show Anthony’s mother reacting emotionally after the 19-year-old was convicted in the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf. The caption alleges that she described the jury as “racist white people” and said she was “glad” Metcalf had been killed.
However, the woman featured in the widely circulated video is not Anthony’s mother.
Community Notes and multiple online fact-checks identified the woman as NiqueAtNite, the online personality and commentator whose real name is Dominique Wilson. The creator has extensively covered Anthony’s trial and appeared visibly emotional while discussing the verdict during a livestream recorded from her vehicle.
The statements attributed to Anthony’s mother do not appear in the video. Review of the footage shows no comments matching the viral quotes, which appear to have been fabricated and attached to the clip after it began circulating online.
Anthony was convicted of murder on June 10 in Collin County, Texas, for the April 2025 fatal stabbing of Metcalf during a Frisco ISD high school track meet. The case drew national attention and became a flashpoint for debates surrounding race, self-defense claims and the criminal justice system.
According to testimony presented during the trial, Anthony and Metcalf became involved in a confrontation near team seating areas at the event. Prosecutors argued that Anthony escalated the dispute and fatally stabbed Metcalf with a utility knife after being asked to leave the area.
Anthony’s attorneys maintained that he acted in self-defense, but jurors rejected that argument after approximately three hours of deliberations. He was subsequently sentenced to 35 years in prison. Because Anthony was a juvenile at the time of the offense, he was not eligible for the death penalty under Texas law.
The defendant’s mother, Kayla Hayes, did appear emotional during sentencing proceedings. During her testimony, she asked jurors to show mercy toward her son.
“He is my oldest, my firstborn, my baby,” Hayes told the court. “I love him very much. Please have mercy on my son.”
Video captured outside the courthouse later showed Hayes leaving the area visibly upset, at one point shouting “Racist!” and “Bias!” from a vehicle as supporters and protesters gathered nearby.
But those documented comments are separate from the claims made in the viral social media post.
As of publication, there is no evidence that Hayes made any of the statements attributed to her in the viral post, and the woman shown in the video has been identified as commentator NiqueAtNite, not Anthony’s mother.
