Jessi Slaughter sexual abuse and cyberbullying case

{{Short description|Sexual abuse and cyberbullying case from 2010}} {{Use American English|date=February 2021}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2021}}

[[File:Blood on the dance floor 2011.png|thumb|313x313px|Blood on the Dance Floor, whose lead singer Dahvie Vanity (not pictured) has faced child sexual abuse allegations from Leonhardt and multiple other underage former fans.]] The '''Jessi Slaughter sexual abuse''' and '''cyberbullying case''' was an American criminal case that revolved around the 11-year-old '''Dami Slaughter''' (born '''Jessica Leonhardt''', known online at the time as "'''Jessi Slaughter'''" and "'''Kerligirl13'''"), whose profanity-laden videos went viral on Instagram and YouTube and resulted in telephone and internet harassment in 2010. It is the central part of the wider sexual abuse allegations against the lead singer of the band Blood on the Dance Floor, Dahvie Vanity (real name Jesus David Torres).<ref name="Ninemsn" /> Vanity directly participated in the harassment against Slaughter in 2010 through a mocking song.

Slaughter's 2010 videos were made in response to accusations that a friend had raped Slaughter, and that Slaughter had a sexual relationship with Vanity while Slaughter was a minor. Years later, Slaughter publicly alleged that the rumors sparking the original harassment were true, stating that Vanity began grooming and sexually abusing him{{Efn|According to his social media profiles, Slaughter uses the pronouns he/him and they/them. This article uses he/him for consistency.}} in 2009 when he was only 10 years old.<ref name="Ninemsn">{{cite news |title=Death threat viral star 'to keep making videos' |url=https://www.9news.com.au/technology/death-threat-viral-star-to-keep-making-videos/2a954b0c-4ffc-44ca-8b05-a807ac02d118 |access-date=February 13, 2021 |work=9News |date=July 23, 2010 |location=Australia |archive-date=May 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510022252/https://www.9news.com.au/technology/death-threat-viral-star-to-keep-making-videos/2a954b0c-4ffc-44ca-8b05-a807ac02d118 |url-status=live }}</ref> His videos resulted at the time in a campaign of telephone and internet harassment against Slaughter and his family, which was attributed to 4chan and members of the internet-based group Anonymous.<ref name="GMA">{{cite news |last1=Canning |first1=Andrea |last2=Netter |first2=Sarah |last3=Crews |first3=Josey |title='Jessi Slaughter' Says Death Threats Won't Stop Her From Posting Videos on the Internet |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Technology/jessi-slaughter-viral-tweens-violent-online-rant-spurs/story?id=11224731 |date=July 22, 2020 |work=Good Morning America |agency=ABC News |url-status=dead |access-date=February 13, 2021 |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109025036/https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Technology/jessi-slaughter-viral-tweens-violent-online-rant-spurs/story?id=11224731 }}</ref> Slaughter's father's reaction made the taunting worse, and the video of his reactions received more views than any of Slaughter's previous recordings, with several quotes from his speech becoming memes themselves.<ref name="CBS News" /> The mocking song "You Done Goofed" from the Blood on the Dance Floor album ''Epic'' is about Slaughter and Vanity's alleged experiences with him.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.insider.com/dahvie-vanity-jessi-slaughter-you-done-goofed-blood-dance-floor-2020-4 |title=Myspace-famous musician Dahvie Vanity was accused of child sex abuse for years. Now the FBI is involved. |last=Tenbarge |first=Kat |date=July 2, 2020 |work=Insider |access-date=June 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200714221144/https://www.insider.com/dahvie-vanity-jessi-slaughter-you-done-goofed-blood-dance-floor-2020-4 |archive-date=July 14, 2020 |url-status=live |quote=Torres also capitalized on the firestorm against Leonhardt and their family with a song titled "You Done Goofed"}}</ref> The case began a debate about the dangers of anonymity on the Internet, and whether or not the Internet is a safe environment for minors, and all people in general.<ref name="ABC Nightline">{{cite news |last1=Braiker |first1=Brian |title=Viral Cyberbullying: Who's to Blame for Jessi Slaughter's Online Infamy |url=http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2010/07/viral-cyberbullying-whos-to-blame-for-jessi-slaughters-online-infamy/ |url-status=dead |access-date=February 13, 2021 |work=ABC News |date=July 22, 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131015011636/http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2010/07/viral-cyberbullying-whos-to-blame-for-jessi-slaughters-online-infamy/ |archive-date=October 15, 2013 }}</ref><ref name="CBS News">{{cite news |last1=Hartstein |first1=Jennifer |title=Ranting 11-Year-Old Goes Viral |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6702113n&tag=cbsnewsTwoColUpperPromoArea |url-status=dead |access-date=February 13, 2021 |work=The Early Show |agency=CBS News |date=July 22, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100724121153/http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6702113n&tag=cbsnewsTwoColUpperPromoArea |archive-date=July 24, 2010}}</ref> Slaughter told ''The Independent'' in 2016: "I wouldn't even call what happened to me cyberbullying, it was straight up harassment and stalking. It started out as cyberbullying but it quickly evolved." Slaughter later came out as transgender and non-binary, using the name Damien Leonhardt while using he/him and they/them pronouns.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gunz |first1=Rafaella |date=August 20, 2017 |title=Damien Leonhardt was once the subject of a viral video, now they're trans and proud |url=https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/damien-leonhardt-subject-viral-video-now-theyre-trans-proud/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128113339/https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/damien-leonhardt-subject-viral-video-now-theyre-trans-proud/ |archive-date=November 28, 2020 |access-date=February 13, 2021 |work=Gay Star News}}</ref> Slaughter now uses the names Dami, Damien, and D, with the surname Slaughter.<ref>{{cite website |date=March 25, 2026|title=DeGrotesqueDami |url=https://degrotesquedami.neocities.org/home|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260415035002/https://degrotesquedami.neocities.org/home|archive-date=April 15, 2026 |access-date=April 15, 2026}}</ref>

The case later became the central part of the sexual misconduct allegations against Vanity, which began in 2009. In 2018, Slaughter accused Vanity of child sexual abuse and rape in a post on social media site Tumblr during their alleged relationship, when Slaughter was 10 years old.<ref name="Tenbarge">{{cite news |last1=Tenbarge |first1=Kat |title=Myspace-famous musician Dahvie Vanity was accused of child sex abuse for years. Now the FBI is involved. |url=https://www.insider.com/dahvie-vanity-jessi-slaughter-you-done-goofed-blood-dance-floor-2020-4 |access-date=February 13, 2021 |work=Insider |date=July 2, 2020 |archive-date=May 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524010134/https://www.insider.com/favicon.ico |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2019, 21 women accused Vanity of sexual assault, child sexual abuse, and rape, with many of them saying the attacks took place while they were under the age of consent.<ref name="HuffPost">{{cite news |last1=Cook |first1=Jesselyn |title=Dahvie Vanity Raped A Child. Police Gave Him A Warning. Now 21 Women Accuse Him Of Sexual Assault. |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/dahvie-vanity-botdf-sexual-assault_n_5c82afb8e4b0d9361627ca1f |access-date=February 13, 2021 |work=HuffPost |date=April 4, 2019 |archive-date=October 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211013031020/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/dahvie-vanity-botdf-sexual-assault_n_5c82afb8e4b0d9361627ca1f |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2020, Slaughter told journalist Chris Hansen of ''To Catch a Predator'' that Vanity sexually assaulted him in April 2009, when Slaughter was 10 and Vanity was 24. He was interviewed as part of Hansen's YouTube channel ''Have a Seat with Chris Hansen''; Hansen described Slaughter as Vanity's "victim zero".<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujXVPl4q380 Have A Seat With Chris Hansen Ft. Damien Leonhardt f/k/a Jessi Slaughter Discussing Dahvie Vanity] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201206183752/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujXVPl4q380&app=desktop|date=December 6, 2020}}. ''Chris Hansen''. March 26, 2020. Via YouTube.</ref> In early 2020, Hansen announced an investigation on Vanity, including having multiple interviews with those who claim Vanity abused or raped them.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last1=Murdock |first1=Sebastian |last2=Cook |first2=Jesselyn |date=March 10, 2020 |title=Chris Hansen To Investigate Alleged Rapist Dahvie Vanity Following HuffPost Coverage |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/chris-hansen-investigate-dahvie-vanity-huffpost_n_5e67d430c5b6670e72ffbb58 |website=HuffPost}}</ref> At the time, the FBI confirmed that they were also investigating the allegations against Vanity.<ref name=":5">{{cite news |last1=Tenbarge |first1=Kat |date=July 2, 2020 |title=Myspace-famous musician Dahvie Vanity was accused of child sex abuse for years. Now the FBI is involved. |url=https://www.insider.com/dahvie-vanity-jessi-slaughter-you-done-goofed-blood-dance-floor-2020-4 |access-date=July 26, 2020 |work=Insider}}</ref> As of 2026, no criminal charges have been brought against Vanity.{{cn|date=April 2026}}

== Videos == Slaughter began making YouTube videos when he was 10 years old, discussing "fashion, clothes and local drama that was happening within the party scene" which were uploaded on his friend's webcam.<ref name="Dazed">{{cite news |title=YouTube's viral stars on how the platform changed the internet forever |url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/science-tech/article/48253/1/youtubes-viral-stars-mukbang-smosh-platform-changed-internet |access-date=February 13, 2021 |work=Dazed |date=March 16, 2020 |language=en |archive-date=September 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923042813/https://www.dazeddigital.com/science-tech/article/48253/1/youtubes-viral-stars-mukbang-smosh-platform-changed-internet |url-status=live }}</ref> Slaughter posted his first popular video just before his twelfth birthday in response to two claims made on StickyDrama and MySpace: the first being that he was a victim of rape, and the second being that he was coerced into a sexual relationship with the lead singer of the electronic crunkcore band Blood on the Dance Floor, a man by the name of Dahvie Vanity (real name Jesus David Torres). Years later, Slaughter publicly alleged that the rumors sparking the original harassment were true, stating that Vanity began grooming and sexually abusing him in 2009 when he was only 10 years old.<ref name="Ninemsn" /> The video was eventually linked to by users of 4chan, who then found and distributed Slaughter's legal name, phone number, and address.<ref name="Ninemsn" /> Slaughter also responded to comments that his relationship with Vanity constituted statutory rape with anger.<ref name="ABC Nightline" />

The harassment intensified after Slaughter uploaded a video that included his father, Gene Leonhardt, insulting and threatening the 4chan users that had posted information about Slaughter, telling them they had "done goofed", and that: {{blockquote|You know what? I'm gonna tell you right now. This is from her father, you bunch of lying no-good punks. And I know who it's coming from, because I back-traced it. And I know who's emailing and who's doing it, and you've been reported to the cyber-police and the state police. You better— Write one more thing, or screw with my computer again, you'll be arrested. End of conversation, from her father. And if you come near my daughter, guess what? Consequences will never be the same. You lying bunch of pricks.}}

The video, which was titled "You Dun Goofed Up", received over 1 million views on YouTube in one week.<ref name="MSNBC">{{cite news |last1=Popkin |first1=Helen A.S. |title=4chan members attack Gawker website |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna38331506 |access-date=February 13, 2021 |work=NBC News |date=July 20, 2010 |language=en |archive-date=May 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524010117/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna38331506 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Slaughter's father's reaction made the taunting worse, and the video of his reactions received more views than any of Leonhardt's previous recordings, with several quotes from his speech becoming memes themselves.<ref name="CBS News" />

Vanity and his Blood on the Dance Floor bandmate Jayy Von Moore directly participated in the taunting of Slaughter, initially by releasing a parody of Slaughter's video, with Moore in the role of Slaughter and Vanity in the role of Slaughter's father.<ref name="CBS News2">{{cite news |last1=Hartstein|first1=Jennifer|date=July 22, 2010|title=Ranting 11-Year-Old Goes Viral|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6702113n&tag=cbsnewsTwoColUpperPromoArea|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100724121153/http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6702113n&tag=cbsnewsTwoColUpperPromoArea|archive-date=July 24, 2010|access-date=February 13, 2021|work=The Early Show|agency=CBS News}}</ref> They also released a song, "You Done Goofed", from the album ''Epic'' about Slaugher and Vanity's alleged experiences with him, with mocking lyrics including "We watched as the world watched you cry" and "My name and reputation won't be the target of a slut". Vanity intentionally released the song on Slaughter's 12th birthday, and it resulted in Slaughter attempting suicide by overdosing.<ref>{{cite news |last=Tenbarge |first=Kat |date=July 2, 2020 |title=Myspace-famous musician Dahvie Vanity was accused of child sex abuse for years. Now the FBI is involved. |url=https://www.insider.com/dahvie-vanity-jessi-slaughter-you-done-goofed-blood-dance-floor-2020-4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200714221144/https://www.insider.com/dahvie-vanity-jessi-slaughter-you-done-goofed-blood-dance-floor-2020-4 |archive-date=July 14, 2020 |access-date=June 22, 2022 |work=Insider |quote=Torres also capitalized on the firestorm against Leonhardt and their family with a song titled "You Done Goofed"}}</ref>

Gene was later arrested in March 2011 for abusing Slaughter in an argument when he punched him, causing him to have bloody and swollen lips, according to a police report. Gene later died from a heart attack while in custody at a police station in early 2011.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Canning |first1=Andrea |title='Jessie Slaughter' Dad Charged With Child Abuse |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/jessi-slaughter-dad-arrested-charged-child-abuse/story?id=13229240 |access-date=February 15, 2021 |work=ABC News |date=March 25, 2011 |language=en |archive-date=November 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111215231/https://abcnews.go.com/US/jessi-slaughter-dad-arrested-charged-child-abuse/story?id=13229240 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Father Of "Jessi Slaughter" Busted For Child Abuse |url=http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/internet/father-jessi-slaughter-busted-child-abuse-980637 |access-date=February 15, 2021 |work=The Smoking Gun |date=March 25, 2011 |language=en |archive-date=March 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307022507/http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/internet/father-jessi-slaughter-busted-child-abuse-980637 |url-status=live }}</ref> Slaughter stated that he had lost all of his friends as a result of the harassment.<ref name="Interview-Indy">{{cite news |date=March 31, 2016 |title=This person became a meme and it ruined their life |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/jessi-slaughter-youtube-video-viral-troll-damien-leonhardt-2010-myspace-a6959436.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308172807/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/jessi-slaughter-youtube-video-viral-troll-damien-leonhardt-2010-myspace-a6959436.html |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |access-date=February 13, 2021 |work=The Independent}}</ref> Because of the harassment, Slaughter was placed under police protection, and the family's home was under police surveillance. Slaughter underwent counseling for harassment.<ref name="Ninemsn" /> In a subsequent ''Good Morning America'' interview, the family revealed that they had received harassment, including death threats.<ref name="GMA" /> In retaliation for Gawker's coverage of the case, Gawker experienced a series of DoS attacks attributed to 4chan users.<ref name="MSNBC" />

=== Parry Aftab harassment === [[File:Parry Aftab 2011.jpg|thumb|271x271px|Parry Aftab was subjected to harassment attributed to 4chan users]] After the ''Good Morning America'' interview, the television audience was advised on how to handle cyberbullying (online bullying and harassment) from internet privacy expert Parry Aftab.<ref name="GMA" /> Aftab was subsequently subjected to harassment attributed to 4chan users in the forms of Google bombing false accusations of child sexual assault, the distribution of personal information, threatening telephone calls, and DoS attacks against her websites ''wiredsafety.org'' and ''aftab.com''. Aftab canceled a follow-up ''GMA'' report due to air the next day because of the harassment.<ref name="CBS Crimesider">{{cite news |author1=Crimesider |title=Parry Aftab Rumors Completely Untrue; Result of Malicious Attack |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/parry-aftab-rumors-completely-untrue-result-of-malicious-attack/ |url-status=live |access-date=February 13, 2021 |work=CBS News |date=July 23, 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131015011622/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20011465-504083.html |archive-date=October 15, 2013}}</ref>

=== Reactions === In Australia, advocates of internet censorship invoked the harassment to support mandatory content filtering.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Farquar |first1=Peter |title=Jessi Slaughter and the 4chan trolls – the case for censoring the internet |url=http://www.news.com.au/technology/jessi-slaughter-and-the-4chan-trolls-the-case-for-censoring-the-internet/story-e6frfro0-1225894369199 |url-status=dead |access-date=February 13, 2021 |work=News Limited |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100721182813/http://www.news.com.au/technology/jessi-slaughter-and-the-4chan-trolls-the-case-for-censoring-the-internet/story-e6frfro0-1225894369199 |archive-date=July 21, 2010 |location=Australia}}</ref> In France, ''L'Express'' described the harassment as "ruining the life" of "an American in the midst of an adolescent crisis",<ref>{{cite news |last1=Simon |first1=Marie |title=Jessi Slaughter, nouvelle tête de turc du web américain |trans-title=Jessi Slaughter, new ''tête de turc'' of the American web |url=https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/societe/jessi-slaughter-nouvelle-tete-de-turc-du-web-americain_907998.html |access-date=February 13, 2021 |work=L'Express |date=July 22, 2010 |language=fr |archive-date=April 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424221237/https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/societe/jessi-slaughter-nouvelle-tete-de-turc-du-web-americain_907998.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and France 24 noted that some were using the controversy to claim that 4chan should be censored.<ref>France 24 official YouTube channel. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ck0GedjFW8Y "The Jessi Slaughter scandal"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209004457/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ck0GedjFW8Y&gl=US&hl=en |date=February 9, 2022 }}. July 23, 2010. Accessed February 13, 2021.</ref>

The case was seen by ''BuzzFeed News'' in 2018 as an example of how attitudes to cyberbullying have changed since 2010, with more emphasis on the victim of abuse.<ref>{{cite news |last1=iexplorer |last2=Notopoulos |first2=Katie |title=How The Internet Failed Jessi Slaughter |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/katienotopoulos/how-the-internet-failed-jessi-slaughter |access-date=February 13, 2021 |work=BuzzFeed News |date=March 26, 2018 |archive-date=May 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513062758/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/katienotopoulos/how-the-internet-failed-jessi-slaughter |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Sexual abuse by Dahvie Vanity == [[File:Chris Hansen.jpg|thumb|348x348px|Chris Hansen announced an investigation on Vanity in 2020, including having multiple interviews with those who claim Vanity abused or raped them, including Slaughter.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Murdock |first1=Sebastian |last2=Cook |first2=Jesselyn |date=March 10, 2020 |title=Chris Hansen To Investigate Alleged Rapist Dahvie Vanity Following HuffPost Coverage |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/chris-hansen-investigate-dahvie-vanity-huffpost_n_5e67d430c5b6670e72ffbb58 |website=HuffPost}}</ref>]] Since 2009, at least 21 people have made sexual assault, child sexual abuse, and rape allegations against Vanity, with one leading to his arrest in 2009.<ref name="Huffpost-B">{{Cite web |last1=Cook |first1=Jesselyn |last2=Murdock |first2=Sebastian |date=April 5, 2019 |title=Dahvie Vanity Raped A Child. Police Gave Him A Warning. Now 21 Women Accuse Him Of Sexual Assault. |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/dahvie-vanity-botdf-sexual-assault_n_5c82afb8e4b0d9361627ca1f |work=Huffington Post}}</ref> Slaughter's 2010 videos were made in response to accusations that a friend had raped Slaughter, and that Slaughter had a sexual relationship with Vanity while Slaughter was a minor. Years later, Slaughter publicly alleged that the rumors sparking the original harassment were true, stating that Vanity began grooming and sexually abusing them in 2009 when they were only 10 years old.<ref name="Ninemsn" /> On March 2, 2018, Slaughter made a Tumblr post in which they publicly accused Vanity of rape for the first time.<ref name="Tenbarge" /> In 2019, 21 women accused Vanity of sexual assault, child sexual abuse, and rape, with many of them saying the attacks took place while they were under the age of consent.<ref name="HuffPost" />

In March 2020, Slaughter told journalist Chris Hansen of ''To Catch a Predator'' that Vanity sexually assaulted them in April 2009, when Slaughter was 10 and Vanity was 24. He was interviewed as part of Hansen's YouTube channel ''Have a Seat with Chris Hansen''; Hansen described Slaughter as Vanity's "victim zero".<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujXVPl4q380 Have A Seat With Chris Hansen Ft. Damien Leonhardt f/k/a Jessi Slaughter Discussing Dahvie Vanity] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201206183752/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujXVPl4q380&app=desktop|date=December 6, 2020}}. ''Chris Hansen''. March 26, 2020. Via YouTube.</ref> Slaughter said he was at a party at which Vanity was present and while they were in the bathroom of the house, Vanity coerced him to perform oral sex on him. During the next 16 months, Slaughter stated that Vanity had violently raped them under the guise of BDSM-style sexual activity. In 2010, Slaughter told a classmate that Vanity had molested them, but later told ''Insider'' that they used the term as a joke, and viewed the relationship as consensual. Slaughter also stated that had he not mentioned Vanity to classmates – which led to the case being discussed online – the abuse would have continued. Towards the end of his interview with Hansen, when he asked Slaughter what he would say to Vanity if he were watching the interview, he replied: "You done goofed."<ref name="Tenbarge2">{{cite news |last1=Tenbarge |first1=Kat |date=July 2, 2020 |title=Myspace-famous musician Dahvie Vanity was accused of child sex abuse for years. Now the FBI is involved. |url=https://www.insider.com/dahvie-vanity-jessi-slaughter-you-done-goofed-blood-dance-floor-2020-4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524010134/https://www.insider.com/favicon.ico |archive-date=May 24, 2022 |access-date=February 13, 2021 |work=Insider}}</ref>

Slaughter's interview led to public opinion shifting in their favour and against Vanity. Former Blood on the Dance Floor bandmates Garrett Ecstasy, who left the band in 2009, and Jayy Von Monroe, who left in 2016, have described Vanity as a sexual predator. In his own interview with Hansen, Monroe accused Vanity of abuse as well, stating that Vanity forced him to tour without his HIV medication which nearly caused him to develop AIDS. Von Monroe also stated that he later made a full recovery after leaving the band in 2016.<ref name="Huffpost-B2">{{Cite web |last1=Cook |first1=Jesselyn |last2=Murdock |first2=Sebastian |date=April 5, 2019 |title=Dahvie Vanity Raped A Child. Police Gave Him A Warning. Now 21 Women Accuse Him Of Sexual Assault. |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/dahvie-vanity-botdf-sexual-assault_n_5c82afb8e4b0d9361627ca1f |work=Huffington Post}}</ref> Jeffree Star and New Years Day members Ash Costello and Nikki Misery have stated that they observed Vanity engage in questionable or illegal sexual behavior during one of the Vans Warped Tours and also during the "All the Rage Tour 2012" in support of their third studio album of the same name around the early 2010s.<ref>Rachel Campbell (August 1, 2018) [https://www.altpress.com/news/blood-on-the-dance-floor-dahvie-vanity-sexual-assault/ Blood On The Dance Floor's Dahvie Vanity accused of sexual assault], ''Alternative Press'', accessed March 18, 2020</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Schaffner |first=Lauryn |date=April 26, 2019 |title=Ash Costello Sheds Light on Dahvie Vanity Allegations |url=https://loudwire.com/new-years-day-ash-costello-dahvie-vanity-allegations/ |website=Loudwire}}</ref> Many of the accusers were underage during the alleged attacks.<ref name="Huffpost-B2" /><ref name="feed2">{{Cite web |date=April 1, 2013 |title=Blood on the Dance Floor Discuss Jesus and Allegations in New Song |url=http://musicfeeds.com.au/news/listen-blood-on-the-dancefloor-discuss-jesus-and-rape-allegations-in-new-song/ |publisher=Music Feeds}}{{Dead link|date=January 2026|bot=InternetArchiveBot}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=December 18, 2018 |title=Scene Singer Dahvie Vanity Is A Rapist Who Preys On Minors, A Dozen Women Say |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/dahvie-vanity-jesus-david-torres-allegations_us_5c180727e4b02d2cae8c0876 |publisher=Huffington Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 8, 2019 |title=Blood on the Dance Floor's Dahvie Vanity accused of underage sexual assault by 21 women |url=https://consequence.net/2019/04/blood-on-the-dance-floor-dahvie-vanity-rape/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 1, 2013 |title=Blood on the Dance Floor Accused Of Child Sex By Fans, Support Acts And Crew |url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/blood-on-the-dance-floor-accused-of-child-sex-by-fans-support-acts-and-crew/ |website=Music Feeds}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 1, 2018 |title=Blood on the Dance Floor's Dahvie Vanity Accused of Sexually Assaulting Multiple Women, Many While They Were Underage |url=http://www.metalsucks.net/2018/08/01/blood-on-the-dance-floors-dahvie-vanity-accused-of-sexually-assaulting-multiple-women-many-while-they-were-underage/ |website=MetalSucks}}</ref> In early 2020, Hansen announced an investigation on Vanity, including having multiple interviews with those who claim Vanity abused or raped them.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Murdock |first1=Sebastian |last2=Cook |first2=Jesselyn |date=March 10, 2020 |title=Chris Hansen To Investigate Alleged Rapist Dahvie Vanity Following HuffPost Coverage |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/chris-hansen-investigate-dahvie-vanity-huffpost_n_5e67d430c5b6670e72ffbb58 |website=HuffPost}}</ref> At the time, the FBI confirmed that they were also investigating the allegations against Vanity.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tenbarge |first1=Kat |date=July 2, 2020 |title=Myspace-famous musician Dahvie Vanity was accused of child sex abuse for years. Now the FBI is involved. |url=https://www.insider.com/dahvie-vanity-jessi-slaughter-you-done-goofed-blood-dance-floor-2020-4 |access-date=July 26, 2020 |work=Insider}}</ref> As of 2026, no criminal charges have been brought against Vanity.{{cn|date=April 2026}}

== See also ==

* Suicide of Megan Meier * Suicide of Amanda Todd

==Notes== {{Notelist}}

== References == {{reflist}}{{Blood on the Dance Floor}}{{4chan}} Category:2010 controversies in the United States Category:2018 controversies in the United States Category:2019 controversies in the United States Category:2020 controversies in the United States Category:2021 controversies in the United States Category:2010 YouTube videos Category:2010s YouTube controversies Category:2010 in Internet culture Category:4chan Category:Anonymous (hacker group) Category:Child abuse incidents and cases Category:Child grooming Category:Child sexual abuse cover-ups Category:Child sexual abuse in the United States Category:Cyberbullying Category:Entertainment scandals Category:Internet memes introduced in 2010 Category:Internet-related controversies Category:Internet trolling Category:LGBTQ-related controversies in the United States Category:Myspace Category:Rape in the United States Category:Sex crimes in the United States Category:Sexual harassment in the United States Category:Sex scandals in the United States Category:Sexual misconduct allegations Category:Violence against women in Florida