A Netflix Reality Show Contestant Claimed to Be a Duke PA Student for 2 Years. The School Says She Never Attended

Former Netflix reality show contestant Angel Murdock claimed to be a physician assistant student at Duke University's School of Medicine for two years, but the university denies any record of her attending the program. Murdock, a social media personality and doctor of physician assistant studies, frequently posted content on her platforms presenting herself as a student in Duke's acclaimed program.

Recent viral attention on the matter arose when Kiera Brown, a class of 2026 alumna, shared an eight-minute video accusing Murdock of not having attended the university. The video garnered over four million views on TikTok, and further scrutiny revealed inconsistencies in Murdock's posts, such as incorrect emblems and colors on her master's hood and the use of acrylic nails, which were not allowed for students.

Some observers noted that Murdock had not interacted with other students, as claimed in her posts. Duke officials stated that they could not find any record of a student named Angel Murdock applying to or enrolling in the Duke Physician Assistant Program. The school, known for being the "birthplace of the physician assistant profession," emphasized the significance of its graduates' achievements.

Experts suggest that Murdock may have continued the fabrication due to the validation and attention she received from it. Some have pointed to the brand deals Murdock received as reasons why she might have stopped lying. As someone who built her platform around her journey to becoming a physician assistant, Brown is concerned that Murdock, with over 34,000 TikTok followers, might have been giving inaccurate information about the academic program or the profession.

Experts also emphasize that trust in medical professionals has declined since 2021, and false identities can be challenging to detect, often leading people to trust others by default.