Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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According to a new analysis by Louder with Crowder host Steven Crowder, the media has repeatedly fallen for hoaxes involving alleged hate crimes, with as many as 90% of the high-profile hate crime stories that become headlines being false. Crowder cites several examples, including a case in Colorado Springs where a woman was sentenced to a year in prison for burning a cross in front of a Black political candidate’s campaign sign, and another in Plano, Texas where media outlets falsely reported that white middle schoolers ‘tortured’ a Black classmate. Crowder argues these cases show the media is often too eager to report on alleged hate crimes without properly vetting the facts.

Why it matters

These high-profile hate crime hoaxes reported by the media have had a significant impact, fueling racial divisions and undermining public trust. Crowder’s analysis suggests the media may be too quick to amplify unverified claims of hate crimes, even when the facts don’t support the narrative. This raises questions about journalistic standards and the media’s role in shaping the public’s understanding of social issues.

The details

In the Colorado Springs case, evidence showed the woman, Danielle Bernard, had coordinated with an accomplice, Blackcloud, to stage the cross burning and falsely blame the candidate’s political opponent. In the Plano, Texas case, a jury later ruled the claims of a Black student being ‘tortured’ by white classmates were a hoax. Crowder argues these examples demonstrate a pattern of the media rushing to report on alleged hate crimes without properly vetting the facts, even when the claims are later proven false.

In April 2023, the cross burning incident occurred in Colorado Springs.In 2021, major media outlets reported the alleged ‘torture’ of a Black student by white classmates in Plano, Texas.Several years after the Plano, Texas incident, it was ruled a hoax by a jury.
The players

Danielle Bernard

A Colorado Springs woman who was sentenced to one year in federal prison for burning a cross in front of a Black political candidate’s campaign sign.

Blackcloud

An accomplice of Danielle Bernard who worked with her to stage the cross burning and falsely blame the candidate’s political opponent.

SeMarion Humphrey

A Black student in Plano, Texas whose alleged ‘torture’ by white classmates was later ruled a hoax by a jury.

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What they’re saying

“If your gut says that does not seem like it would be committed in the 21st century, you are usually right.”

— Steven Crowder, Host, Louder with Crowder (Louder with Crowder)

“As far as hate crimes that you see that become headlines, I would wager that 90% are false. The media keeps looking for propaganda.”

— Steven Crowder, Host, Louder with Crowder (Louder with Crowder)

“You have plenty of people who believe that a poor Black kid was forced to drink piss by some evil White supremacists — it is not true.”

— Steven Crowder, Host, Louder with Crowder (Louder with Crowder)

What’s next

Crowder suggests the media should be more diligent in verifying claims of hate crimes before reporting on them, in order to avoid amplifying false narratives that can further divide the public.

The takeaway

These high-profile hate crime hoaxes reported by the media highlight the need for greater journalistic scrutiny and fact-checking when it comes to claims of bias-motivated incidents. The media’s tendency to rush to report unverified narratives, even when they are later proven false, can have significant consequences in terms of public trust and social cohesion.