Philly Social Media Influencer 'Meatball' Charged With Multiple Felonies After Live Streaming Looting
A popular social media influencer from Philadelphia who goes by the moniker “Meatball” was arrested with more than 60 people who were accused of looting across the city on Tuesday (September 26) night, the Philly Voice reports.
“Meatball” whose government name is Dayjia Blackwell has been charged with six felony charges and two misdemeanors for sharing the footage of the thefts on her Instagram Stories and her TikTok account.
In the videos posted to her Instagram account, Blackwell can be heard cheering on the looting shouting "free iPhones." Also, she’s seen in the videos walking along the crowd in different stores and documented the upheaval as she drove to different areas of the city
Before the chaos broke out on Tuesday night, the family and supporters of Eddie Irizarry led a demonstration to City Hall to protest the judge's decision to dismiss all charges against Mark Dial, a former Philadelphia police officer, who fatally shot Irizarry on August 14.
Blackwell seemingly mentioned the charges being dropped in one of her videos when she said, “This is what happens when we don’t get justice in this city!”
NBC Philadelphia reported that Blackwell was released from jail on Thursday (September 29) after posting on bail.
After her involvement in the incident, Blackwell expressed her regret and promised to evade trouble in the future. She advised others on this type of behavior as well.
“I’d just prefer, you know, never loot again, stay out of trouble, never go to jail," she said.
Vashti Fields, Blackwell's grandmother said she was in shock when she discovered her grandchild was a part of the looting.
“What goes through my mind, as a grandmother, is I’m very ashamed. I’m very ashamed to see my [grandchild] there, at that time,” Fields told Fox 29.
“When I see someone of my blood, that has been there while this is happening … that hurts me deeply,” she continued.
After returning home, Blackwell said on her Instagram that the experience was something that she would never forget.
“I’ve never been through nothing [sic] like that in my life,” she said. “I don’t even know what happened, like I need some sleep. I’m scared, I’m traumatized. Never again in my life, like seriously.”