TikTok Crime Channel Called Out For Using ‘Wojacks’ To Illustrate Sexual Abuse Cases

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In the interesting world of true crime on TikTok a popular channel called “true cime” (@crime.chron) was berated by several users. This was for using the Wojack animation style to illustrate serious criminal cases, victims, offenders and more. All the videos on the channel follow the same format, with a carton rendition of the build-up to the crime being displayed before a short insight in the story itself.

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As you’ll see later, the video caused an argument between some users and the account creator, which rasied questions about how to illustrate serious crime cases (especially ones involing sex crimes).

Here is an example of what we are referring to:

@crime.chron

❗️Her mom handed her over for only $200. In 2009, a missing person report was filed in Fayetteville, North Carolina by a woman named Antoinette Nicole Davis. She told authorities that her daughter had disappeared from their home during the night. The case immediately triggered an Amber Alert, and law enforcement launched a search. Community members, volunteers, and police worked together to try to locate the child. Days later, the investigation took a critical turn. Surveillance footage from a hotel in Sanford, North Carolina, showed a man named Mario Andrette McNeill entering with the missing child. McNeill was known to Antoinette Davis, and investigators quickly focused on both individuals. As detectives questioned the people involved, a disturbing truth emerged. Antoinette Davis admitted to allowing McNeill to take her daughter, reportedly in exchange for settling a personal debt of $200. She later claimed she believed the child would be returned safely. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Several days after the footage surfaced, authorities discovered the child’s body in a wooded area. The news devastated the local community and drew national attention due to the betrayal and neglect at the center of the case. Legal proceedings followed swiftly. Mario McNeill was arrested and charged with several crimes, including kidnapping and murder. He was convicted and sentenced to death. Antoinette Davis was also charged. She entered an Alford plea — a legal move that allows a defendant to maintain innocence while acknowledging that the evidence is likely sufficient for a conviction. She was sentenced to between 17.5 and 21 years in prison. The case served as a painful reminder of the importance of child protection and community vigilance. It also sparked discussions about how poverty, desperation, and broken systems can contribute to devastating outcomes. #truecrime #truecrimetiktok #truecrimestory #truecrimeusa #crimetok #crimetiktok #scary #scarystory #fyp #CapCut

♬ original sound – 🩸𝖙𝖗𝖚𝖊 𝖈𝖗𝖎𝖒𝖊🩸

This is a clearly a very horrifying case, and the music, which is the same music used for all of the videos plays in the background, before a voice over starts. We see the real life people of the incident animated into Wojacks and displayed on the screen, often with weird contorted faces and reactions.

The video in question

One of the videos in question relates to the famous Menendez Brothers case, where the two brothers were sexually abused by their farther. Take a look for yourself below.

@crime.chron

❗️🚨The Menendez brothers have had their m*rder sentences reduced by a California judge, making them eligible for parole On the night of August 20, 1989, in their upscale Beverly Hills home, José and Kitty Menendez were found brutally m*rdered. What shocked the nation wasn’t just the violence of the crime—it was the identity of the k*llers: their own sons, Lyle and Erik Menendez. At first, the brothers claimed it was a home invasion. But as the investigation unfolded, inconsistencies emerged, and their sudden extravagant spending drew attention. Eventually, Lyle and Erik confessed to the k*llings, but their defense stunned the courtroom—they claimed years of emotional and physical abuse by their father, with their mother allegedly turning a blind eye. Their first trial in 1993 ended in a mistrial, as jurors struggled with the complexity of the abuse claims. But in a second trial in 1995, with key testimony restricted, the brothers were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole. For decades, the case remained closed—until new evidence surfaced in 2023, including an old letter from Erik and a public accusation from a former member of the boy band Menudo, who claimed José Menendez had ab*sed him in the 1980s. This revelation reignited public interest and legal debate. Then, on May 13, 2025, a judge officially resentenced the brothers to 50 years to life, making them eligible for parole. A hearing is scheduled for June 2025, meaning—for the first time in over 30 years—Lyle and Erik Menendez could walk free. #truecrime #truecrimetiktok #truecrimestory #truecrimeusa #crimetok #crimetiktok #scary #scarystory #fyp #CapCut

♬ original sound – 🩸𝖙𝖗𝖚𝖊 𝖈𝖗𝖎𝖒𝖊🩸

One of the top comments on the video relates to the illustration, and shares the opinion that these sorts of cases should be handled with respect, and not be animated using ‘meme-format’.

An argument insues

A commenter started to criticise the videos, calling out the format as ‘disrespectful’ and ‘tone deaf’ – see the exchange below.

‘Making wojacks about someone getting graped and a murder is beyond disgusting’

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The account owner was quick respond with:

‘Hi, we just aim to tell the stories in a unique way, we don’t intend to disrespect any of the victims or pick any side’

The user, not impressed with the explanation said:

‘Your adapting real crimes and victims into a meme format that’s not unique that’s tone deaf and just fucked up, sincerely did you put any real thought into this or are you just‘

A third user defended the account owner saying:

‘cry more buddy it’s not that deep’

With the user clapping back with: ‘No reading comprehension or basic empathy’

Finally, the owner chimed in, stating:

‘Hi again, Wojaks are not use in a meme format in my videos, they’re only used to represent the case in an accurate and sometimes dramatised format, We never did and we never will make fun or disrespect the people involved.’

The first user who commented then doubled down and said:

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‘Again wojacks are a meme ffs go if you drew everyone like pepe the frog it’s the same thing, doing so repeatedly is making fun of the victims and a complete lack of basic empathy’

@crime.chron then responded by saying:

‘Wojaks may have meme origins, but their use has evolved. In this context, they serve as neutral representations no different than animation or reenactments used in documentaries.’

Responding for a final time the user said:

‘They really haven’t been used for anything except memes and rage bait on Twitter git’s just disrespectful dude idk why you wanna die on this hill so badly’

Interestingly, there was no more back and fourth after this, as it seems both parties had expressed their reasons for what they believed in, with the original account owner continuing to post videos in this format.

The likelihood that they would change their format now is very low, as it’s the basis for the videos. In a sense, it’s a video hook, which immediately captures the users attention with a flashy animation.

However, as the first user stated, Wojacks are internet memes and have been ever seen they started to gain popularity. This article by Lifehacker explains it: The Out-of-Touch Adults’ Guide to Kid Culture – Lifehacker.

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If the account does not get any of the details wrong and pays respect in any way he can to the case, surely using Wojacks like this would not be much of a concern no?

That’s what some people think, however, this is the style of the account owners videos, and it is unlikely that he will change anytime soon.

More drama

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