Atlanta-based influencer posts personal info of critics

ATLANTA – Excellent foodstuff is meant to nourish the soul as properly as the body.

But the FOX 5 I-Workforce states an Atlanta social media influencer who touts his cooking expertise online has remaining driving a mess of consumer complaints and harm emotions. And worse.

“This has been a living nightmare,” complained Atlanta resident Melenese Ford.

Darius Williams, 39, once owned two Atlanta eating places that he shut in January 2020. He’s due to the fact crafted an amazing on-line existence below the pseudonym Darius Cooks.

Atlanta-based mostly on the internet chef Darius Williams refused to clarify why he doxes his critics. 

A self-taught chef, Williams operates a website referred to as DariusCooksTV wherever he sells cookbooks and cookware blended in with his cooking video clips.

He also commonly posts on social media — his Facebook webpage by itself statements 1.5 million followers.

You can even see Williams in individual for his seven-training course foods named Eating with Darius — advertised now at $289 a particular person — held in several metropolitan areas throughout the nation.

Darius Williams depends on quick-expression rental properties like this one particular in Collier Hills to stage his Dining with Darius situations. He upped the price tag to $289 for every person next yr.

But not everyone likes the over-all taste of what Williams has been serving.

His organization scored an F Rating with the local Improved Company Bureau more than grievances he under no circumstances shipped goods or canceled dining occasions with no giving refunds.

Not able to achieve Williams instantly, upset customers voiced their stress in the remarks section of Williams’ social media posts or are living video clips.

That’s exactly where yet another expression was added to the menu. Doxing.

“I’ll be straightforward,” reported Don Holland of Detroit. “I didn’t even know what the expression doxing meant.”

The formal phrase is sharing private or pinpointing data on line about anyone in a malicious way. 

When Danielle Holland anonymously reposted opinions from upset shoppers, she later found Darius Williams responded by publishing photos of her two youthful little ones.

Holland’s spouse Danielle reported she noticed buyer complaints about Williams and started off reposting them anonymously.

Then a single day she seemed at Darius’ Twitter web site.

“I’m scrolling and the following issue I see a picture of me. I see a image of my little ones. And my husband,” she recounted. “And it was type of pretty much like an out-of-system working experience.”

The Hollands shut down all their social media accounts and filed a police report, sending authorities clips of Williams’ films the place he bragged about exposing Danielle and her small children.

“We obtained her youngsters on there as effectively,” he tells his supporters. “Her kids’ facts. I place it on my Instagram.”

Williams continue to has their children’s photographs on his Twitter site.

When the FOX 5 I-Group requested Williams about his doxing tactics, he declined remark and closed the doorway of a quick-time period rental property he was applying in Atlanta for a Dining with Darius function.

Doxing has occurred to much more than just the Hollands.

In other reside feeds Williams boasted how he can get personalized data about his critics.

“I can tell you who moved to from what point out to what condition,” he informed his followers.

When an additional upset customer disputed a charge — her pal stated she arrived late for a Dining with Darius event mainly because he was slow to share the spot — Williams posted her call information to his followers, then manufactured entertaining of her. He also posted the telephone number of her brother who had privately achieved out to intervene.

“He does not like criticism,” claimed Danielle Holland. “He does not like to be questioned.”

The Hollands immediately uncovered some others who say they are also victims of doxing. Like Melenese Ford of Atlanta. She suggests immediately after she raised concerns about Darius’ tactics, his followers bombarded her, also.

“I was reached out to,” she claimed. “Named all sorts of names. It was absolutely terrible. He does this for clicks, likes and engagement.”

The foodstuff struggle has even arrived at other Tv cooks. Sunny Anderson and Angela Davis — regarded as the Kitchenista — have issued public condemnations of Williams and his doxing.

Anderson gave Williams his commence years in the past as a visitor on her Food Network exhibit.

“I sense so bad,” Anderson told the FOX 5 I-Crew. “I actually do. I want men and women to know I have nothing to do with him.”

In 2019, the state of Ga shut down Williams’ unlawful credit score mend business enterprise named Over 701. He agreed to spend $145,750 in penalties and restitution.

A couple months later on, Williams shut his restaurants Greens and Gravy in Atlanta and Soul Crab in Higher education Park.

“This issue about doxing and cyberbullying… it is real,” stated Ford. “And it’s hurtful and it is hurting folks.”

Don and Danielle Holland sell shirts that demonstrate the hazard of doxing. They say they match all proceeds and donate them to charity.

To battle back again, the Hollands created shirts with the hashtag #AForeverProblem on the front and the definition of doxing on the back.

They sell them on the internet with proceeds promised to cyberbullying charities like Cyber Smiles and Motion 4 Black Life. The operator of a trucking enterprise, Holland says he matches each individual donation.

Melenese Ford took a photo of one of individuals shirts remaining on Williams’ car when he was in Atlanta very last month.

He took out a restraining purchase. She submitted a law enforcement report. And when he went stay to talk about it, she states the assaults from his followers cranked up all more than yet again.
 

One particular doxing target took this photo of a t-shirt yet another critic left on Darius Williams’ car or truck when he was in Atlanta past thirty day period. She filed a police report following he blocked her car or truck from leaving. He later on submitted a restraining get. They’re because of in court la

“It’s like some type of really rigorous cult subsequent that will harass a complete stranger dependent on what he said,” she explained. “It’s really frightening.”

Bon appétit all people.

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