Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge came under fire Monday after she scolded social media users and journalists for sharing viral footage of a brutal mob attack that left at least two white victims unconscious during the city’s downtown Jazz Festival.
Despite gruesome videos showing a white man and woman being savagely beaten by a group of Black assailants, Theetge accused the public of distorting the incident by posting footage “without context.”
“Social media… does not depict this entire incident,” Theetge said during a press conference. “That is one version of what occurred.”
Footage Shows Unprovoked, Graphic Violence
The disturbing videos, widely circulated online, show:
- A white man being knocked to the ground, then kicked and stomped in the head by multiple attackers.
- A white woman trying to intervene, only to be sucker punched from behind, then pummeled in the face until she lost consciousness.
- Blood pouring from the woman’s mouth as she lay motionless on the pavement.
Another video posted since shows a third victim being assaulted — suggesting the incident may be part of a broader pattern of racially motivated violence, according to online commentators.
Police Chief Deflects, Blames Public Reaction
Rather than focus on the violence itself, Theetge redirected attention to what she called “misrepresentations” by media and social platforms.
“That social media post and your coverage of it distorts the content of what actually happened,” she said.
Pressed for clarity on what was “distorted,” Theetge offered a vague explanation:
“It just shows one side of the equation quite frequently — without factual context. And then people run with that.”
She further claimed the viral videos had “made it harder to investigate.”
NEW: Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge shames people for sharing video footage of a woman getting beaten because the video didn’t “depict the entire incident.”
She’s seriously blaming social media for this?!
The comment comes in response to video footage showing a woman… pic.twitter.com/OhNij3XX3V
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 29, 2025
Public Outrage: “This BS Must End”
Critics erupted online over Theetge’s remarks, accusing the department of downplaying the severity of the attack and shaming the public for demanding accountability.
“She’s seriously blaming social media for this?” one user wrote.
“You don’t get to shame the public for exposing evil when the authorities failed to stop it,” said another.
Lack of Police Response Under Scrutiny
The beatings occurred in broad daylight on busy city streets during a major public event — yet police were noticeably absent at the time.
Chief Theetge confirmed that only one 911 call was made, which contributed to the delayed response.
“That’s unacceptable,” she said. “People saw this. They were fighting in front of traffic. Why didn’t people call us?”
Investigation Ongoing, But Public Confidence Falters
At least two suspects have been arrested, and several more are under investigation. But Theetge’s defensive press conference has only deepened public frustration.
While police insist more information will come to light, residents and onlookers are asking why victims of a clearly documented, racially charged assault are being overshadowed by concerns over media narratives.
As one commenter put it:
“We saw the video. No ‘context’ justifies what happened.”
