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If you’ve been scrolling through social media lately, your feed has probably been filled with two major stories that are currently going viral. Let’s dive right into the “too long; didn’t read” (TL;DR) summaries of both events so you can stay in the loop.
1. The Disastrous Distracted Driving Ticket: Kathleen Turner
The first story involves a Florida woman named Kathleen Turner (no, not that Kathleen Turner). She was pulled over and ticketed for distracted driving because an officer claimed she was manipulating her phone with her right hand while driving.
The catch? She doesn’t have a right hand.
The Body Cam Footage Outrage
While Turner initially posted a TikTok about the incident back in February, the story exploded in virality recently when she released the officer’s body cam footage. The video shows the officer repeatedly doubling down on his claim despite the physical impossibility.
Two major moments sparked widespread public outrage:
- The “Hand to God” Demand: The officer asked Turner to swear “hand to God” that she wasn’t using her phone. When she raised her right arm, which ends near the elbow, he rejected it and forced her to use her left hand.
- Physical Impossibility: Even playing devil’s advocate, if she had been holding the phone in her left hand, her right arm could not have reached the steering wheel to maintain control of the vehicle.
The Resolution
Following immense social media backlash and public pressure, the district attorney dismissed the case due to a total lack of evidence. While the legal battle is over, the internet is still reeling over the sheer absurdity and ableism displayed in the footage.
2. Netflix’s The Crash and the Narrative of Mackenzie Shirilla
The second story dominating social media is the new Netflix documentary, The Crash, which follows the case of Mackenzie Shirilla. As a 17-year-old, Shirilla crashed her car into a brick wall at 100 mph with the accelerator 100% depressed, killing her boyfriend and their friend.
Shirilla was ultimately convicted of murder. Because she turned the vehicle right before impact to ensure the passenger side took the brunt of the collision, prosecutors argued it was a deliberate act. Security footage from moments prior also showed her driving methodically, proving she was in full control of her faculties.
Bench Trials vs. Jury Trials
Shirilla opted for a bench trial rather than a jury trial. In the legal system, a defendant can choose to have a judge decide their fate instead of a jury. Defendants often choose a bench trial if they believe the legal burden of “beyond a reasonable doubt” is too complex for everyday citizens to interpret properly, trusting a judge to adhere strictly to the letter of the law. Ultimately, the judge found her guilty on all counts.
The Failed PR Strategy
Unlike high-profile cases like Karen Read or Kathleen Turner, again, not THAT Kathleen Turner—where public movements rallied behind perceived innocence—Shirilla’s documentary appearance had the opposite effect. Observers noted her entitled demeanor during interviews, including a telling moment where she instantly dropped her emotional disposition the second she thought the cameras stopped rolling.
It appears Shirilla participated in the documentary to garner public support for her appeal, but the evidence of her guilt left viewers completely unsympathetic.
Pure Tone-Deafness
The viral outrage surrounding The Crash extends heavily to Shirilla’s parents, who exhibited shocking tone-deafness:
- The Dad’s Wardrobe: During a documentary exploring a crash that took two young lives, Shirilla’s father chose to wear a superhero-style T-shirt featuring the word “BOOM” next to an explosion.
- The Mom’s Sentencing Remarks: During the victim impact statements—where families share their grief and defendants offer mitigating circumstances to reduce sentences—Shirilla’s mother gave a rambling, irrelevant speech that forced the judge to cut her off.
The Takeaway
This week highlights a fascinating dichotomy on the internet. On one hand, you have Kathleen Turner going viral due to a clear systematic injustice. On the other, you have Mackenzie Shirilla going viral because justice was served, despite her attempts to manipulate public perception.
What are your thoughts on these two cases? Drop a comment below and let’s discuss.
Until next time, this is Family Tech, powering down!
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