As Owasso student dies after school beating, critics blame negativity from 'Libs of TikTok'
After Nex Benedict, a student at Owasso High School, died earlier this month, critics on social media claim negativity spread by right-wing social media accounts has fed aggression toward LGBTQ+ individuals.
Many also cite that Chaya Raichik, the woman behind the "Libs of TikTok" social media account, has targeted Owasso High School before.
But, who is Raichik? And, what is “Libs of TikTok”?
Here’s everything we know.
Who is Chaya Raichik?
Raichik is a former Brooklyn real estate agent who grew up in Los Angeles. She created the @LibsofTikTok handle on Twitter, now X, in April 2021. "Libs of TikTok" has over 2.8 million followers and reposts TikTok videos of users sharing liberal views while adding derisive conservative commentary.
The account has become a creator of, and a force multiplier for, right-wing outrage, particularly on LGBTQ+ issues. On X, it has been amplified by the platform’s owner Elon Musk, and a hive of conservative politicians, media personalities and far-right online influencers, including former Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson and podcaster Joe Rogan.
Why are people upset with Chaya Raichik after Nex Benedict's death?
In 2022, Owasso teacher Tyler Wrynn resigned amid controversy surrounding a post on TikTok where he affirmed LGBTQ+ students.
The post was featured on "Libs of TikTok," causing Wrynn to face harassment.
Benedict's mother told The Independent that her child was angry about the backlash Wrynn received. She said teachers who encourage debate about gender issues were not promoting sexualized content, the news outlet reported.
“They’re allowing the students to be who they are,” she said.
The cause of Benedict's death has not yet been determined, but people on social media are linking Raichik's influence on Wrynn's resignation to Benedict's death.
chaya raichik targeted that child’s school district in 2022 and got a queer teacher fired. a month ago, the superintendent put her on the state’s dept of education. today, the child is dead, and chaya is waltzing around los angeles. i’m so fucking angry man. a fucking child
— matt (@mattxiv) February 20, 2024
Chaya Raichik promotes the hate that is literally killing kids.
— Jess Piper (@piper4missouri) February 19, 2024
This is the face of a psychopath.
Chaya Raichik, the head of Libs of TikTok, thinks it’s funny when what she says causes people to be threatened, beaten, and even killed.
This chick should be in a padded cell, not on social media.
🤨😡😒🤬 pic.twitter.com/QKDoM4eQWZ— 🔥JanaB Warrior Angel🔥 (@Janabw81) February 20, 2024
Libs of TikTok creator responds to claims surrounding Nex Benedict's death
Raichik has denied claims suggesting she played a role in Benedict's death multiple times on social media.
Please share the information on how you “know this is a direct result of hateful rhetoric”?
If you have information you aren’t sharing, you probably should because the police can’t confirm if she was targeted because she was nonbinary. I assume you know something they don’t? https://t.co/aZo3Dfc7Ce pic.twitter.com/DHZAcs3TWj— Chaya Raichik (@ChayaRaichik10) February 20, 2024
Candidate for Oklahoma House repeating a straight up lie. There is no evidence the student was targeted because of her nonbinary identity. @CommunityNotes https://t.co/hXD36OFH12 pic.twitter.com/AmcApOwMmX
— Chaya Raichik (@ChayaRaichik10) February 20, 2024
Controversy around Chaya Raichik on Oklahoma's Library Media Advisory Committee
Last month, Raichik was named to an Oklahoma library media advisory committee by Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Education Ryan Walters.
In a media statement, Walters said he put Raichik on the advisory committee because she was on the front lines showing the world exactly what the radical left is all about — lowering standards, porn in schools and pushing "woke indoctrination" on kids.
“Her unique perspective is invaluable as part of my plan to make Oklahoma schools safer for kids and friendly to parents," Walters said.
Did "Libs of TikTok" cause bomb threats to an Oklahoma school?
Last year, a "Libs of TikTok" post drew attention to a video posted by an elementary school librarian in Tulsa.
In the 16-second video, a librarian enters a classroom with books in her hand and laughs along in a lip sync of a Ludacris song. The caption on the video says, “POV: Teachers in your state are dropping like flies but you are still just not quite finished pushing your woke agenda.”
The video had been edited from her original TikTok to include the teacher's name and school at the end.
After the post was made, the Ellen Ochoa Elementary School in Tulsa received a bomb threat on Aug. 22. That day Ryan Walters had also retweeted the "Libs of TikTok" post.
The threat appeared to have been made in retaliation for a librarian's public post on TikTok.
Another "Libs of TikTok" post identified a Western Heights Public Schools principal as a drag performer and accused various Oklahoma school districts of having “pornographic” books in their libraries.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Libs of TikTok under fire after nonbinary Oklahoma student's death