Michelle Bishop, an Ohio fitness instructor, has found herself at the center of controversy following a viral video that captured her fleeing from a Black homeowner’s porch while accusing him of trespassing on his own property. The incident, recorded on November 19th, has sparked heated discussions about racial profiling and implicit bias, with critics condemning Bishop’s actions as emblematic of systemic racism.
The video, taken from Mike Jenkins’ doorbell camera, shows Bishop questioning whether Jenkins lived in the house after she allegedly pretended it was hers to evade what she described as a “scary” situation. Jenkins, a real estate developer, had paused in his truck to admire his Christmas lights, but Bishop claimed he had followed her in a manner she found threatening. Despite his calm demeanor in the footage, Bishop responded by screaming and running away with her children, shouting for help.
In a tear-filled video posted Saturday, Bishop defended her actions, citing past traumatic experiences, including being stalked by a sex offender and a childhood incident involving a stranger at her family’s door. While she acknowledged sharing her fear publicly might have been a mistake, she maintained that her reaction was not racially motivated. “There was never a racist intent,” she insisted, adding, “I’m the furthest thing from a racist.”
The backlash, however, has been swift and unforgiving. Social media users have criticized Bishop for what they perceive as weaponizing her whiteness against Jenkins. Comments accusing her of using “white tears” to deflect accountability have gone viral themselves, with many arguing her explanations lack genuine remorse. Bishop’s insistence that an “agenda” is targeting her has only fueled further criticism.
Jenkins has not commented publicly, but the incident has reignited broader conversations about the everyday realities of racial profiling and its dangerous consequences. For many observers, Bishop’s response—and the viral reaction it provoked—underscores the urgent need to confront bias and hold individuals accountable for perpetuating harm in their communities.
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