A Texas court has ruled that a nationally promoted hate crime allegation involving high school students was a fabricated story, not a racial attack. The decision undercuts years of media coverage that treated the claims as established fact. The case is now cited as a cautionary example of narrative-driven reporting overriding basic verification.
The controversy began in 2021 in Plano, Texas, when a Black teenager alleged that white classmates assaulted him during a sleepover. Media reports claimed he was forced to drink urine, shot with BB guns, and targeted because of race. Major outlets including CNN, NBC News, CBS News, Business Insider, People magazine, and local Texas papers ran the story prominently. The allegations were also featured on Good Morning America, which promoted a GoFundMe fundraiser tied to the claims.
A civil jury trial concluded in 2025, with a judicial ruling issued in 2026. A racially diverse jury determined the story was false and that the allegations were intentionally fabricated by the teen’s mother, Summer Smith, and her attorney, Kim Cole. The court ordered them to pay approximately $3.2 million in damages to Asher Vann, the student falsely accused.
Testimony showed the GoFundMe raised nearly $120,000 after the media coverage. Court records indicated only about $1,000 was used for school-related expenses, while most funds went toward personal spending, travel, and rent. A criminal grand jury had previously declined to indict any of the accused students.
Vann testified that the accusations led to death threats, public protests outside his home, and long-term reputational harm. Despite the court ruling, none of the major outlets that amplified the allegations have issued prominent corrections or follow-up stories.
The case has renewed debate over media responsibility, especially when reporting racially charged accusations involving minors, and highlights the real-world consequences of unverified claims presented as fact.
