Morgan Bettinger is a former student of the University of Virginia (UVA) who was falsely accused of making racist and threatening remarks to a group of Black Lives Matter (BLM) protesters in 2020. Her accuser, Zyahna Bryant, is a BLM activist and community organizer who recently announced a partnership with Dove soap.
This sparked a backlash and boycott calls against Dove for supporting Bryant, who allegedly ruined Bettinger’s life and reputation with her baseless claims. In this article, we will explore the details of the controversy, the aftermath, and the current status of Bettinger.
Who is Morgan Bettinger?
Morgan Alyse Bettinger is a 24-year-old woman who was born on April 4, 1999, in Warrenton, Virginia. She is the daughter of Cary Bettinger and the late Wayne Alan Bettinger, who passed away in 2017. She has two brothers, Matthew and Mitchell Bettinger.
Educational Background & Early Career
She attended Albemarle High School and graduated in 2017. She then enrolled at Piedmont Virginia Community College, where she earned an associate degree in liberal arts in 2019. She transferred to UVA in 2020, where she majored in history and minored in anthropology.
Bettinger is an avid fan of sports, especially baseball and softball. She played softball for her high school and college teams and was a member of the UVA Club Softball team. She also enjoys hiking, camping, fishing, and traveling. She has a Facebook account and an Instagram account, where she posts pictures of her family, friends, pets, and hobbies.
Who are Morgan Bettinger’s Father, Mother, and Siblings?
Bettinger’s father, Wayne Bettinger, was a law enforcement officer with the Charlottesville Police Department for 25 years before passing away from cancer in 2018. Her mother, Cary Bettinger, currently works as a nurse at the University of Virginia Medical Center.
Morgan’s family comprises two older brothers, namely Matthew and Mitchell Bettinger. Matthew, who chose to follow his father’s footsteps, is a police officer while Mitchell works for the Albemarle County Fire Rescue as a firefighter. It is noteworthy that she hails from a family of public servants who have devoted their lives to safeguarding and aiding others.
What happened on June 13, 2020?
On June 13, 2020, Morgan Bettinger was driving near UVA’s campus when she encountered a BLM protest that was blocking the road. She stopped her car and waited for the protesters to clear the way. According to her version of events, a truck driver who had been sent to block the road during the protest approached her and started a casual conversation with her. She said that she joked with him something to the effect of “it’s a good thing that you are here because otherwise, these people would have been speed bumps.”
However, according to Bryant’s version of events, she heard Bettinger say to the truck driver that the protesters “would make good speed bumps” in a threatening tone. She confronted Bettinger and asked her to repeat what she said. Bettinger denied saying anything to the protesters and drove away when the road was clear.
Bryant took a picture of Bettinger’s license plate and posted it on social media, along with her accusation that Bettinger had threatened the protesters. She also filed a complaint with UVA’s Office of Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights (EOCR), demanding that Bettinger be expelled from the university.
How did UVA handle the case?
UVA launched an investigation into the incident, which involved interviewing witnesses, reviewing video footage, and examining social media posts. The investigation found “insufficient evidence” to support Bryant’s claim that Bettinger had threatened the protesters. It also concluded that it was “more likely than not” that Bryant never even heard Bettinger make a “speed bumps” remark at all.
Despite the investigation’s results, UVA allowed Morgan Bettinger to be punished anyway, based on the verdict of an earlier student-run tribunal that had found her guilty of violating the university’s Standards of Conduct. The tribunal had relied on Bryant’s testimony and social media posts as evidence, without considering any other sources or perspectives.
The tribunal had expelled Bettinger in abeyance (meaning that she could be reinstated if she met certain conditions) and imposed other sanctions on her, such as requiring her to write an apology letter to Bryant, complete an online course on diversity and inclusion, and perform 40 hours of community service.
Bettinger appealed the tribunal’s decision to UVA’s vice president for student affairs, but her appeal was denied. She also appealed to UVA’s president, but he refused to intervene.
What are the consequences for Bettinger?
Bettinger has suffered severe consequences for being falsely accused by Bryant. She has faced harassment, bullying, threats, and ostracism from her peers and professors at UVA. She has lost her academic scholarships, her spot on the club softball team, and her opportunities for internships and jobs. She has also experienced emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts.
Bettinger has decided to withdraw from UVA and pursue her education elsewhere. She also filed a lawsuit against UVA in August 2023, claiming that the university violated her First Amendment rights and that its officials “purposefully tampered” with the investigations into her conduct to ensure that she would be punished for protected speech.
Who is Zyahna Bryant?
Zyahna Bryant is a 22-year-old woman who is a BLM activist and community organizer. She is a senior at UVA, majoring in political and social thought. She is also the president of the Black Student Alliance and the founder of the Charlottesville High School Black Student Union.
Bryant is known for her activism and advocacy for racial justice and social change. She has led several protests and campaigns in Charlottesville, such as calling for the removal of Confederate statues, demanding accountability for the 2017 Unite the Right rally, and supporting reparations for Black residents.
Bryant has received recognition and awards for her work, such as being named one of Teen Vogue’s 21 Under 21 in 2017, one of Glamour’s College Women of the Year in 2019, and one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in 2021.
What is Bryant’s partnership with Dove?
Bryant announced on her Instagram account at the end of August 2023 that she was a “Dove ambassador” and hoped to push the idea of “fat liberation.” She said that she was partnering with Dove, a personal care brand owned by Unilever, to support the work of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) and Flare for Justice in the Campaign for Size Freedom.
She said in an accompanying video clip: “My belief is that we should be centering the voices and experiences of the most marginalized people and communities at all times. So when I think about what fat liberation looks like to me, I think about centering the voices of those who live in and who maneuver through spaces and institutions in a fat body.”
Profiles
Instagram: m_bettinger17
Facebook: morgan.bettinger
Homepage: Dreshare.com
What is the backlash and boycott against Dove?
Bryant’s partnership with Dove has sparked a backlash and boycott calls against Dove for supporting Bryant, who allegedly ruined Bettinger’s life and reputation with her false accusations. Many people have expressed their outrage and disgust at Dove for aligning itself with Bryant, who they see as a liar, a bully, and a hypocrite.
On X, formerly Twitter, “#BoycottDove” has become a trending topic, with many users writing directly to Dove or posting pictures of them throwing away or burning their Dove products. Some of the comments include:
- “Got it, you’re on my boycott list now! I’ll have to toss my Dove products and never buy them again!”
- “BOYCOTT DOVE … NOW!”
- “It’s time for us to give Dove the Bud Light treatment. #LiberateDove from our lives. Our $, our choice.”
- “Dove supports false accusers who ruin innocent lives. Shame on you, Dove. #BoycottDove”
How has Dove responded to the controversy?
Dove has not issued any official statement or response to the controversy or the boycott calls. However, some sources have reported that Dove is considering ending its partnership with Bryant or reducing its exposure to her. According to an anonymous insider, Dove is “shocked” by the negative reaction and “regrets” its decision to work with Bryant.
Boyfriend & Relationships
Based on the information found through dreshare.com research, it can be confirmed that Morgan Bettinger is presently unattached and not romantically involved with anyone. Her previous relationship was with Jake Smith, a fellow student at UVA who was studying engineering. The relationship came to an end in 2020 following the incident involving protesters. Since then, she has not made any public statements regarding her personal life or current relationship status.
How has Bryant responded to the controversy?
Bryant has not addressed the controversy or the boycott calls directly. However, she has posted several messages on her Instagram account that seem to imply that she is unfazed by the criticism and that she stands by her partnership with Dove. Some of her posts include:
- “I am not here to be liked. I am here to be free.”
- “I will not apologize for taking up space in this world.”
- “I am proud of who I am and what I do. No one can take that away from me.”
What is Bettinger doing now?
Morgan Bettinger is currently enrolled at Liberty University, an online Christian university based in Lynchburg, Virginia. She is continuing her studies in history and anthropology and hopes to graduate in 2024. She is also working part-time as a cashier at a local grocery store.
Bettinger is trying to move on from her ordeal at UVA and rebuild her life. She is focusing on her education, her health, and her relationships. She is also seeking justice and accountability from UVA through her lawsuit.
Bettinger has received some support and sympathy from people who have learned about her story and believe that she was wronged by Bryant and UVA. She has also been contacted by some media outlets who want to interview her or feature her case.
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