Jo Ellis, a transgender woman and helicopter pilot, is filing a defamation lawsuit against conservative influencer Matt Wallace after he spread the rumor on X that she was responsible for the Jan. 29 commercial plane crash. He posted her photos, labeling the event as a “trans terror attack.”
This is not the first time that a trans individual has been wrongly accused for a deadly event in a gross facilitation of an anti-trans agenda. The outcome of this lawsuit will hopefully set a precedent for ending transphobic hate speech used to cover up real issues.
Ellis is a Black Hawk helicopter pilot who has shared her story about gender dysphoria and her transition on social media. She has discussed her surgeries and struggles in posts on Facebook while condemning American political culture — criticizing both Republicans and Democrats. Her transparency about her experience and political commentary made her the perfect target.
The plane-helicopter collision tragically killed all 67 passengers and crew. As political media exploded after Wallace’s accusation, Ellis was labeled a murderer. She shared a proof-of-life video verifying she was not the helicopter pilot and stated in a post, “It’s insulting to the victims and families of those lost, and they deserve better than this BS.”
After taking down the original post, Wallace dared to publish twice more, misgendering Ellis throughout. He claimed that he did not start the rumor, but with 2.3 million followers, he used his platform recklessly and was responsible for the extensive reach the rumor gained.
Ellis’ official complaint states that Wallace “decided to exploit this devastation for clicks and money” and “concocted a destructive and irresponsible defamation campaign.” Wallace needed a scapegoat for his hateful speech to profit from his monetized profile.
Meg Phelan, Ellis’ lawyer, points out that the posting was very strategic. These call-outs are justified and shine much-needed light on the continuous issue of violent crimes falsely linked to members of the LGBTQ+ community — especially transgender people.
In the past, rumors of shootings committed by trans individuals, such as in Uvalde, TX, and Madison, WI, circulated online. This distracts from the real issue at hand and gives way to baseless transphobia.
Cases like this need media attention to set the legal precedent for banning homophobic defamation. Not only does it contribute to discriminatory societal standards but it distracts from real issues, resulting in tragedy.
Ellis’ case has turned public attention away from the grieving families and the prevention of similar accidents and toward anti-trans rhetoric, making a mockery of the situation. Ellis bravely fights this offense and states that any money she wins will go toward the victims’ families. This justly brings the issue full circle to what it should have been about all along — the lives lost and families affected in the crash.
