An Instagram user with a significant following sparked outrage by posting an image appearing to show him desecrating the grave of white teenager Austin Metcalf, while calling for the release of his murderer, Karmelo Anthony.
| PULSE POINTS |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: An Instagram account with over 10,000 followers posted an image appearing to show the black account owner urinating on the grave of Austin Metcalf, a white student athlete who was murdered last year by black student athlete Karmelo Anthony. The post, which may have been AI-generated, also called for Anthony’s release. 📰 DETAIL: Instagram user @onebigrichfolkz74, an amateur rapper, captioned the image, “I woke up and chose violence,” and “FREE #KarmeloAnthony.” The post quickly gained significant attention online, with more than 10,000 likes within hours. The controversy comes amid reports that the Metcalf family has received escalating death threats and harassment following Anthony’s murder conviction and 35-year prison sentence. Anthony was found guilty of fatally stabbing the 17-year-old during a dispute at a high school track meet in Frisco, Texas, in April 2025. Prosecutors argued that eyewitness testimony and video evidence contradicted Anthony’s self-defense claim, a position ultimately accepted by the jury. Legal experts note that while physically desecrating a grave can violate Texas law, the legal implications of AI-generated or digitally altered images depicting such acts are less clear, though related harassment or civil claims could still arise. 🎯 IMPACT: The post garnered over 10,000 likes in less than 12 hours, sparking widespread outrage and calls for legal action. A number of AI-generated copycat posts were also shared. Under Texas law, desecrating a grave is a serious offense, and even creating realistic images of such acts could potentially lead to criminal charges or civil claims for emotional distress. |
Hey @austintexasgov, pretty sure he’s breaking the law. Here’s the Instagram link, please do your thing before this gets out of hand https://t.co/CBfh1cnQB8 pic.twitter.com/6lrPIEBxkc
— IBetYouWontDoIt (@IBetYouWntDoIt) June 12, 2026
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