Aubreigh Wyatt died by suicide on Sept. 4, 2023 in Mississippi
If you’ve seen the hashtag #LLAW on your social media feeds, you’ve heard of Aubreigh Wyatt. The 13-year-old from Ocean Springs, Miss., died by suicide on Sept. 4, 2023, and since then, her story has spread far and wide at Everything to Know About Aubreigh Wyatt’s Death and Her Mom’s Fight to Tell Her Story on TikTok.
Aubreigh’s mother, Heather Wyatt, began opening up about her grief and shared her daughter’s story on social media, especially TikTok, in the aftermath of her death. Aubreigh’s name and photos began to spread, and the hashtag #LLAW (Live Like Aubreigh Wyatt) started trending as well.
Heather previously said, according to Newsweek, that her daughter’s death was caused by ongoing bullying. She said that at least four girls tormented Aubreigh, who was in the eighth grade at the time of her death. At Everything to Know About Aubreigh Wyatt’s Death and Her Mom’s Fight to Tell Her Story on TikTok, Heather has also demanded that people be held accountable.
Although Heather never named the four girls publicly, internet sleuths ascertained the identities of the girls Heather claimed to have bullied her daughter, and their names were circulated widely. Purported texts between Heather and Aubreigh detailing the alleged bullying were also shared online.
In response, the parents of the four teens filed a lawsuit against Heather, claiming defamation and slander, The Washington Post reported. After the July 2 filing, a judge also ruled that Heather must shut down all of her social media accounts, per the outlet. Many social media users were outraged at the ruling, saying it violated Heather’s freedom of speech. Supporters of Heather, including other popular TikTokers, have posted messages of support at Everything to Know About Aubreigh Wyatt’s Death and Her Mom’s Fight to Tell Her Story on TikTok.
Ophelia Nichols, also known as Mama Tot on TikTok, shared a message of support for Heather, which currently has more than 11 million views. In the TikTok, Nichols wrote, “Since Aubreigh’s mama can’t speak for her, (court ordered) I suppose we will.” Nichols added, “When their voice is silenced, use yours.”
According to Newsweek, the complaint against Heather reads, in part, “As a direct and proximate cause of the false, defamatory, and slanderous social media posts of the defendant, Heather Wyatt, the plaintiffs’ minor children have been receiving insulting and revolting messages from around the world attacking them, calling them vulgar names, sexualizing them. These young ladies WERE IN THE 8TH GRADE!! at Everything to Know About Aubreigh Wyatt’s Death and Her Mom’s Fight to Tell Her Story on TikTok”
On July 16, though, the parents reportedly dismissed the lawsuit, as per a document that PEOPLE looked at and provided with Vicksburg News. According to the petition, the case was “dismissed without prejudice,” which implies the parents may reopen it at a later time if they so want.
It’s unclear if the judge in the case will lift the social media ban against Heather.
As of press time, Heather’s social media profiles — which garnered millions of views and shares around the world — were still not online at Everything to Know About Aubreigh Wyatt’s Death and Her Mom’s Fight to Tell Her Story on TikTok.
The Wyatt family created a GoFundMe campaign to assist with legal fees. In the fundraiser, Heather called her daughter, “vibrant, kind, and exceptionally bright.”
“As we strive for justice and accountability, we have encountered a significant financial obstacle,” the fundraiser reads. It has currently raised more than $110,000.
Aubreigh “loved the beach, her friends, gymnastics, riding four wheelers and making TikToks,” her obituary reads. In addition to her mother, Aubreigh is survived by her sister, brother and grandfather at Everything to Know About Aubreigh Wyatt’s Death and Her Mom’s Fight to Tell Her Story on TikTok.
Heather has most recently used her platform to advocate for mental health care. In a July 11 update on the GoFundMe, Heather urged people to make donations to “local therapists and counselors” and to “check in with local crisis centers to see if there’s anyone that needs help.”
Trey Brennan, spokesman for Ocean Springs School District, shared the following statement with PEOPLE at Everything to Know About Aubreigh Wyatt’s Death and Her Mom’s Fight to Tell Her Story on TikTok.
“Ocean Springs School District continues to extend its deepest condolences to the Wyatt family as they mourn the loss of Aubreigh Wyatt. Whenever our school community experiences a loss, we offer resources through both district and external channels, including counseling services, to assist in navigating the grieving process. Additionally, we collaborate closely with our staff to accommodate any necessary adjustments to their workload and schedule, ensuring their needs are met during periods of loss.
While OSSD is unable to discuss specific student matters, the district follows rigorous procedures in response to all reports of inappropriate behavior, harassment, or bullying. Administrators conduct thorough investigations, and if the evidence supports the allegations, appropriate consequences are determined in accordance with district policies. Throughout this process, parents and students are kept informed of developments, and documentation of our procedures are maintained for records. Students and parents can submit anonymous bullying reports both online and in person at Everything to Know About Aubreigh Wyatt’s Death and Her Mom’s Fight to Tell Her Story on TikTok.
Despite misinformation being spread on social media, our administrators have been and will remain committed to addressing all reported incidents with integrity and dedication to the well-being of our students. OSSD strongly encourages students and parents to report any instance of bullying or harassment directly to school administration by submitting an online bullying report or by contacting their student’s school.
OSSD is steadfast in its commitment to providing a healthy learning environment and meeting the needs of all our students and staff. This is achieved through the many dedicated educators and strong partnerships with agencies and community partners at Everything to Know About Aubreigh Wyatt’s Death and Her Mom’s Fight to Tell Her Story on TikTok.”
