Asian men misidentified, harassed online over US university gang rape case
ONE message told him to “go to hell”. Others said he deserved to be imprisoned. Death threats poured in.
Asian men misidentified and harassed online over US university gang rape case. The 2024 alleged rape of a Cornell University student has sparked outrage and online abuse for those sharing the name of one of the accused. Winston Lee, one of the accused, has faced death threats and misidentification due to the chaotic internet. Chinese-American and Indonesian men with similar names have also been targeted, receiving hateful messages and being accused of involvement in the incident.
Reddit users have joined the online hunt, with some making false claims about the accused's locations. Former Cornell students belonging to the same fraternity as the accused have also been victims of online smear campaigns, receiving threats and adverse actions from employers and institutions. The wrongfully accused may face negative consequences without any consequences for those making the accusations.
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