A Texas college student says her mugshot was misused in a viral hoax claiming she worked as an Olive Garden waitress and threw breadsticks at customers, sparking online harassment.
The fake story described a 26-year-old waitress in St. Louis, Missouri, hurling a basket of breadsticks after a couple allegedly stiffed her on a tip, but the incident never happened. The only real element was the mugshot of Megan Ashlee Davis, a student from College Station, Texas.
Davis told the Chron that the viral post made her life “my worst nightmare coming to reality,” with people sharing inappropriate comments and AI-generated images using her photo.
The hoax was created by the Facebook account Pure Videos, which has 1.7 million followers and often posts fictional stories. Although the post appeared to be removed or made private, copies continue to circulate on Facebook and X.
Davis’ mugshot came from a night in August when she was arrested for public intoxication. She said the incident was particularly difficult as it came weeks after her mother passed away, adding to her emotional strain.
Olive Garden confirmed the hoax, stating, “This person does not work for Olive Garden, and the incident described never occurred.”
Davis said the continued circulation of the post leaves her feeling overlooked and unheard, highlighting concerns about the spread of fake news and harassment on social media.
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