Who is ‘Meatball’: Meet “Meatball,” a Philadelphia Instagram influencer renowned for her livestreamed coverage of a plundering rampage prior to her arrest.
In the aftermath of the shocking looting spree that occurred in the heart of Philadelphia, one name has emerged: “Meatball.” The social media influencer who livestreamed the tumultuous events and appeared to be arrested in the process remains a mystery.
Who is Meatball, the influential Instagram user from Philadelphia?
Meatball, whose actual name is Dayjia Blackwell, has amassed nearly 650,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok. On the night in question, she used social media to document a disturbing sequence of events in which looters ransacked multiple businesses, including an Apple store, Foot Locker, Lululemon, and a liquor store.
Not only the documentation of the looting stood out in her videos, but also her evident enthusiasm and encouragement of the marauders. As she videotaped possible looters, Blackwell was observed laughing, clapping, and yelling “Let’s go!”
In a powerful videotaped statement, she stated, “This is what happens when we don’t get justice in this city,” alluding to underlying tensions or grievances.
Her webcast depicted thieves breaking into an Apple store and stealing iPhones and tablets. Blackwell even applauded those who displayed stolen electronics.
However, the evening took a change when the police arrived. Blackwell could be heard shouting “Don’t touch them!” in her videos. As she observed police arresting individuals outside a ransacked store, she exclaimed, “Record this!”
Later, the livestream revealed scenes of looters ransacking a liquor store, and Blackwell was momentarily seen holding a bottle containing a brown liquid.
While her livestream documented these events, social media users shared videos of what appeared to be Blackwell’s detention by police officers. She is seen being led away in shackles in one video.
Dayjia Blackwell, also known as “Meatball,” has not been formally arrested or charged in connection with the events as of yet. The Philadelphia Police Department has not yet responded to confirmation requests, and Meatball has not responded to social media messages.
The incident in Philadelphia involving a group of approximately 100 individuals engaged in looting has raised questions about the role of influencers in documenting and sometimes encouraging unlawful activities, leaving authorities and the public to consider the implications of social media’s influence on actual events.
