On her 26th birthday, Lailah Elliot shared a simple, joyous update: "Today I turned 26 and was officially sworn in as an attorney." With a few celebratory photos, she posted to X (formerly Twitter), expecting to share her milestone with friends and family. Instead, her announcement went viral, drawing over 20.1 million views and a mix of applause and scrutiny.
"Posting this was a big moment for me," Elliot told Newsweek, reflecting on her journey through law school at Southern Methodist University. "I wanted to share it with my loved ones who had been following my progress."
While some users congratulated Elliot, others seized on minor details, such as how she held a pen and even debated her choice of outfit.
One X user asked where Elliot bought her dress, she responded "Bloomingdale's," which then led a critic to accuse her of "lying" about the brand, asserting it could also be found at Kohl's.
"This is how you know you've officially become a liar. I mean lawyer," one user quipped. The incident ignited discussions across social media, with @neverstopwithshari commenting, "Just further evidence that a sister can be doing everything right and still get hate." The TikTok user went on to criticize the energy spent on scrutinizing Elliot's outfit. Newsweek reached out to @neverstopwithshari via email.
The intense reaction to Elliot's post reflects a broader trend on X, where evidence suggests public scrutiny has become increasingly aggressive since Elon Musk's takeover of the platform.
Research by ISD and CASM Technology for BBC Panorama in 2023 revealed a sharp rise in newly created accounts following known misogynistic channels on the platform, correlating with Musk's ownership milestones and the reinstatement of controversial figures. Analysts found that, post-takeover, accounts linked to these channels jumped by nearly 70 percent, a change some have linked to a perception of more leniency toward abusive behavior.
Since Musk's takeover, X has shifted toward softer sanctions for people breaking traditional policy areas for users, focusing on reach restrictions rather than account suspensions for many violations.
Despite the backlash, Elliot remains undeterred. "I was shocked my post went viral," she said, adding that her posts typically get around 100 likes from her close friends and family.
"The support far outweighed the negativity, though. I've had so many young people reach out, saying they feel inspired to pursue law or higher education. That's more than enough reason for me to keep posting."
Going forward, Elliot says she will likely filter her comments more carefully but won't let the experience stop her from celebrating her accomplishments.
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