to be clear, my initial goal is $7500. this is enough to start the appeal process, but the entire process will be $35,000. once I reach that goal, I will change the GoFundMe fundraiser amount to be closer to my full goal. any amount helps me, so please share & donate!
My voice, and the voices of countless other survivors, is worth the fight. And also, I have no choice — as the defendant in this lawsuit, I’m trapped in this involuntary combat. Please consider sharing and/or donating to support my appeal.
www.gofundme.com/f/join-brend...
I have experienced significant financial strain in the fight to defend myself. The isolation and victim-blaming I’ve experienced have been extremely demoralizing, but I refuse to allow this to silence me.
This entire experience has been isolating, distressing, and anxiety-inducing. The distress of having to defend myself after surviving my experience has cost me professional opportunities. I’ve lost professional and personal relationships because of the harassment and the lawsuit. 
In my case, the judge’s decision sets a dangerous legal precedent for sexual harassment survivors who are defendants in libel and defamation cases, which is why it must be appealed. I’m raising money to appeal the decision. The total cost of appeal will be about $35,000.
Unfortunately, my story is one of many survivors of violence who are being sued for libel and defamation for publicly speaking up about their experiences. There has been an uptick of these cases since Depp v. Heard (2022).
In June 2024, we filed a motion to dismiss the case, providing ample evidence to the court of my experience. Our motion sat on the judge’s docket for over a year until their response in June 2025. The judge ruled against the motion to dismiss in July 2025.
I immediately found legal representation, but because I had no savings, I had to borrow $25,000 to retain my legal team. My community support helped me raise $7000 to pay back some of the loan, but I’m still paying back that loan ($720/month).
Upon finding it, all of the horror and fear I had felt in graduate school (and more) came rushing back. Though frightened and afraid for my life, I knew I had to do whatever it took to fight this.
The lawsuit was filed by the plaintiff on November 28, 2022 in New York State Supreme Court, County of New York, with the Index No. 160118/2022. I was never properly served summons for the case, which is why I learned about it through a Google search.
Instead of finding the academic articles I was looking for, I discovered that I was being sued for $750,000 for 3 tweets I made about my experience of being stalked and harassed while I was a PhD graduate student-worker at Columbia University.
In Jan 2024, I did a Google search on my name to prepare for a job interview. I was excited about the possibility of becoming a professor, and I wanted to find some articles for my “why should you hire me?” talk.
A week from today I will be hosting this event at UNC-Greensboro (below is a thread with flier and description of event. Please share with your networks. Thank you ❤️
the jokes write themselves at this point
Event flier
After which we’ll talk about questions around Black feminist and womanist ecopoetics, ecoaesthetics and geographies in the context of the U.S. south.
At 5pm on 3/19 in the Claxton Room of the Elliott University Center on UNC-G’s campus, AfroCarolina folklorist and writer Michelle Lanier and ritual worker and poet Destiny Hemphill will present/read their work.
Good morning ❤️🌸
I wanted to share with and kindly ask that you share with your communities and networks a wonderful event taking place on UNC-Greensboro’s campus in two weeks from today.
I do not want to be in community with people who actively encourage the proliferation of harm towards others—until it reaches their own doorstep.
These are dangerous and deeply tribalistic people without the requisite level of foresight, empathy, and morality needed to participate in society.
yesterday I celebrated the birthday of my podcast black. loved. free. this journey has been one that required everything from me. most ppl don’t know the podcast was borne from & born in the fight for my life. read my reflections here open.substack.com/pub/blacklov...
thank you, Mutha! ❤️
One thing my homies gon do is write they ass off. Gon and read this and let it bless and inspire you into communal action.
YOU ARE ON FIRE OMG IM ON MY WAY !
the program was very full and I didn’t get to see everyone I wanted to see either! but we will meet soon 💕 and @heyitsjeida.bsky.social you’ll have to pull up to the next one!
"Are we trying to be white?
Or are we trying to be free?
Are we trying to be human?
Or are we trying to be free? …
Are we trying to be woman?
Or are we trying to be free?"
@brendaneatynes.bsky.social
Black Women Radicals:
Is There (Really) A Black Feminist Movement?
www.youtube.com/live/8X49-c4...
As @brendaneatynes.bsky.social just reminded me, OEB is the same one who wrote manifestations and intentions. “So be it! See to it!”
She was tapped into something more than what folks want to admit. And I don’t know why that’s all of a sudden unsatisfactory.
Great job alert!
ProPublica is hiring a climate reporter. Come join us.
Remote OK.
Salary range: $95K-$170K.
Apply here:
boards.greenhouse.io/propublica/j...
