Jacksonville Woman Targeted After Mistaken Identity Linked Her to Viral Fort Myers Racist Rant Video

Online misidentification triggers harassment far from the original incident

A Jacksonville woman says she has been subjected to threats and sustained harassment after being incorrectly identified online as the person seen in a viral video recorded in Fort Myers. The video shows a woman using racial slurs and making hostile remarks during a confrontation in a retail parking lot.

The Jacksonville resident, Lisa Hanson, said she became aware of the situation when her social media accounts were flooded with accusatory messages and threats. Hanson said the harassment expanded beyond online platforms, reaching her workplace and other parts of her daily life. Her daughter, Lexie Lewis, said she was among the first to notice the volume and tone of the messages directed at Hanson.

Video shared widely as public tries to identify the woman filmed

The Fort Myers video was posted online by Maria Mejia, who recorded the encounter. As the clip spread, some social media users circulated a name that matched Hanson’s, leading others to contact and confront the Jacksonville woman. Mejia later said she was unaware that an unrelated person had been swept into the fallout and expressed regret over the mistaken identity and its consequences.

The rapid spread of the video illustrates a recurring pattern in viral incidents: viewers attempt to identify individuals shown on camera, and unverified claims can quickly become accepted as fact. In this case, Hanson said the confusion triggered real-world repercussions for her and those around her.

Threats and intimidation raise potential legal concerns

Hanson described hostile contacts that went beyond criticism, including communications she characterized as threatening. Under Florida law, certain written or electronic threats can carry criminal penalties, depending on the content and circumstances of the message. Law enforcement agencies typically evaluate whether a communication includes a credible threat of violence and whether it meets statutory thresholds for prosecution.

Separately, the Fort Myers incident itself has drawn attention as the video continues to circulate. Authorities in Lee County have indicated the encounter captured on video is under review, though the status and scope of any investigation can change as additional information becomes available.

A case study in the real-world impact of viral content

For Hanson, the episode has centered on immediate safety and reputational concerns. She said unfamiliar people appeared at her place of business and asked employees questions about who was working behind the register, adding to worries about escalation beyond social media.

The incident underscores how quickly viral posts can produce collateral harm, particularly when online audiences rely on name matching or unverified identifiers. It also highlights the difficulty of reversing misinformation once it has been amplified across multiple platforms, even when the person targeted is not connected to the original event.

• The Fort Myers video spread widely on social media within days.
• A Jacksonville resident with the same name as the person being discussed online reported threats and harassment.
• The original poster said the Jacksonville woman was not the person in the video and expressed regret over the misidentification.

“This is not my point; my point is that we are all humans,” Mejia said in a statement addressing the misidentification.