'We won't stand for this': Politicians support North East family against online hate
A couple from Redcar were visiting a local park where they made a TikTok video, which was subsequently altered and spread across social media with false paedophilic accusations.
The Northern Echo previously reported how the couple, Natalie and Olajuwon Ayeni, 52 and 35, are 'living in fear', after online trolls spread false accusations about their innocent family outing.
Natalie (Right) and Olajuwon (Left) Ayeni (Image: Say Something)The harassment escalated when Tommy Robinson, also known as Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, shared the video to his 1.4 million followers.
The couple have since been threatened in the street, and are now too scared to leave their home.
The impact of these allegations also saw Olajuwon lose his job as a musician, when his management suspended business until the matter is resolved.
Matt Storey (Image: Newsquest) Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner, Matt Storey, spoke out in support of the couple.
"This kind of disinformation online is extremely worrying because it's becoming more and more prevalent," he said.
"It shows the lengths which the far-right are willing to stoop that they would fake a video like this and put a completely innocent family at risk of serious danger and threat.
"It's difficult to comprehend how you take your kids to the park so innocently and that video is taken and fixed to spin these lies.
"It makes me incredibly angry to see the toxic atmosphere on social media, and it's driven by these far-right actors who just want to drive wedges between people and use diversity as something they can exploit.
"What [Redcar and Cleveland MP] Anna Turley has done is a great job, and we need more politicians to stand up as strong advocates for these people at risk of hate and prejudice. I represent them and everyone in Cleveland, and I want to make sure they know I'm supportive of them. I won't stand for this kind of hate.
"It's up to politicians like myself to stand up for these communities and make sure the far-right aren't successful in demonising people like the Ayeni's. We can come together on behalf of families like this and say we won't stand for this. It's unacceptable and we can't allow the far-right's poisonous messages of hate to settle."
Anna Turley (Image: ANNA TURLEY) Redcar and Cleveland MP Ms Turley said that Redcar should be suitable for families "whatever the colour of your skin".
She said: "Blended families of all shapes and sizes have the right to enjoy a happy day in our park without suffering vile racism.
"I'm heartbroken for the Ayeni family who've been targeted and abused because of Tommy Robinson's poisonous lies. This is what he and his followers do day in, day out – take an innocent family video, crop it, and use it to whip up hate and division.
"Well not here, not off the back of Redcar families. There's no place for hate in our town."
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Despite appeals explaining the nature of the footage, Robinson and others who shared the video have yet to take it down.
Cleveland Police said they have 'implemented a full wraparound support package' in response to the threats the family have been receiving.
Cleveland Police urged social media users to refrain from further sharing either the video or any incorrect information about the people featured.
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