In a news statement, Lee explained that pardons are “an official statement of forgiveness.” They are granted to those who have completed their sentences and have been living freely in their communities for at least five years.
Other forms of clemency include exoneration and commutation. Lee did not grant either of those Friday.
“After thoroughly reviewing the merits of each case, I have decided to grant 43 individuals executive clemency,” said Lee. “Each individual case is unique and warranted consideration, and I thank the Board of Parole members for their thoughtful recommendations throughout this process.”
Executive clemency decisions are made in consultation with the Tennessee Board of Parole. That board issues non-binding recommendations for each case.
Ever wonder who comes up with the stuff on those digital signs above Memphis interstates? For this holiday season, it’s you.
Voting ends tomorrow evening in the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s (TDOT) Make Travel Bright Safety Sign Contest. Take the survey here to vote for your favorite and see it in lights as you drive around this month.
Here are the finalists:
• All I want for Christmas is You. Drive Safe!
• Deck the halls. Not each other. Stop road rage.
• Did you have half a drink more? Please don’t drive.
• Don’t be a cotton headed ninny muggins. Drive sober
• FA LA LA LA LA Don’t drink and drive
• He sees you when you’re speeding…
• Leave getting lit to the Christmas lights. Don’t drink and drive.
• Get HO-HO-Home safely. Don’t drink and drive.
• Waiting to text is the ultimate flex. Put down your phone.
• Drinking and driving is on Santa’s naughty list.
Those signs are called Dynamic Message Signs. There are 217 of them spread across Tennessee’s biggest metros — Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga, and Knoxville. Some are in rural parts of the state, too.
The slogans are called “holiday travel safety messages.” The contest for slogans began at the beginning of the month with open nominations. They were to focus on safe driving topics like speeding, seat belts, impaired driving, aggressive driving, and distracted driving.
Credit: Tennessee Department of Transportation
The winning entries could not have hashtags, phone numbers, website addresses, or emojis. Lewd or profane messages were not allowed. The signs can accommodate three lines of text with up to 21 characters (including spaces).
“This contest is a fun way to engage citizens and assist TDOT in accomplishing our goal of saving lives by getting the attention of drivers and reminding them to practice safe driving habits,” said Deputy Governor and TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley. “We encourage motorists to check the message boards daily for important travel information. This holiday season we want everyone to reach their destination safely.”
After voting concludes on Friday at 5 p.m., the messages will begin appearing on the state’s digital signs.
The Memphis economy grew to a record high of $102.9 billion last year.
Credit: Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED)
The Greater Memphis Chamber announced the landmark last week, calling it “impressive” and a ”historic milestone.” It was the first time the Memphis Gross Regional Product (GRP) pushed over $100 billion. GRP is the total value of all products and services sold in a metro area.
The Memphis economy increased by nearly 6 percent from 2022 to 2023, growing by $6 billion. Over the last five years, the economy grew by 32.3 percent, which closely aligns with the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 34.1 percent.
“Breaking through the $100 billion GRP barrier is a remarkable milestone for Memphis,” said GMC president and CEO Ted Townsend. “This achievement, along with our record employment numbers, really highlights what we’ve always believed — Memphis is a place where business thrives. … We’re not just growing; we’re truly transforming our economy and opening up exciting new opportunities for our region.”
Key highlights:
• Memphis ranked 6th among peer cities in GRP in 2023.
• 5 percent average annual GRP growth over the past five years
• Record employment levels reaching 656,600 jobs
• Unemployment rate of 4.3 percent, nearly matching the national average
“This economic milestone aligns with the region’s strong employment recovery, as Memphis surpasses its pre-pandemic employment levels, showcasing the market’s vigorous recovery and ongoing growth trajectory, “ the Chamber said in a news release.
For context, the Nashville metro, which includes the large suburb of Murfreesboro and the wealthy suburbs of Franklin and Brentwood, had a GRP of $204 million last year. The figure made it the largest economy in Tennessee, followed by Memphis.
Credit: Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED)
As for the rest of the top five economies in Tennessee, the Knoxville MSA ranked third with a GRP of $64.3 billion last year.
Travel funds given to Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee to speak at a conservative Christian conference broke state law, according to an opinion issued Tuesday by the Tennessee Ethics Commission (TEC).
The opinion was requested by Lee after he accepted expenses for a trip in July to speak at the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) Summit in July 2024, according to TEC. The only event scheduled on the ADF website for July was its Legal Academy, held on Marco Island, Florida. Lee was paid for “certain travel expenses,” though those were not detailed in a statement from TEC Tuesday.
The TEC ruled that accepting funds from the group to attend the event was a “prohibited gift.” That’s because the group’s ADF Action subgroup is a registered employer of a lobbyist in Tennessee.
Lee originally argued that the event sponsor — the overarching ADF group — and its political group were different organizations. Therefore, the the payments did not break state law. Though, he noted the two do share resources.
However, after a thorough review of state laws and the Tennessee General Assembly’s intent for enacting them, the commission said the payment — even though paid indirectly from ADF — still broke the rules.
“Even a cursory review of the information presented by ADF and ADF Action establishes a close working relationship in the pursuit of similar goals with resources shared to achieve their common purposes,” reads the opinion.
Aside from the names of the groups, another such “striking resemblance” of the two groups, according to TEC, are their mission statements. ADF advances “every person’s God-given right to live a speak the truth” whereas ADF Action advocates for “public policies supporting religious freedom, freedom of speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life and marriage.”
“ADF Action cannot escape the broad reach of the gift prohibition statute by its related organization — ADF — paying the expenses at issue, whether overtly or covertly on its behalf, or to advance their shared interests,” reads the opinion.
State Rep. Caleb Hemmer (D-Nashville) applauded the ruling, calling it a “misuse of power to take luxury trips paid for by interest groups, breaking Tennessee law.”
“The Ethics Commission has stood firmly on the side of the people, making it clear that the governor isn’t above the law,” Hemmer said in a statement. “They have ordered him to pay back the trip to Florida, funded by an organization employing a lobbyist in Tennessee.
“I hope this advisory opinion will stop lobbyist groups from offering these illegal and unethical trips to influence the Lee Administration.”
Hemmer said he was reviewing legislation to strengthen these ethics laws in next year’s session of the Tennessee General Assembly.
Posted to Facebook by
the Downtown Memphis Commission
Memphis on the internet.
Marathon reminder
Plan ahead for some road closures this weekend as the city makes way for the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend.
It’s looking to be another chilly one. So throw on a hat and gloves and go cheer on the runners. If nothing else, be willing to be patient.
Good Roads?
Never mind potholes aplenty and Poplar’s perilous far-right lanes, Memphis roads got some actual good reviews in a Reddit thread last week.
Reddit user u/Jcb0304 started the conversation saying their favorite stretch was Walnut Grove from Union to Germantown Road, calling it “delightful.” Others liked North Parkway, Belvedere, Raleigh Lagrange, Belleair, Cooper, Riverside, and more.
It’s beginning To …
Posted to Facebook by Novel
It’s happening. Maybe it already happened. The holidays are here, and it’s everywhere you look. Novel kicked off Christmas last weekend with story time, hot chocolate, and a visit with the Grinch.
We, the writers of the Memphis Flyer, promise we’ve been good boys and girls. Really good. We only made fun of The Commercial Appeal once this year — just one time — well, one time this month. Sure, we misspelled Gannett while we were at it. Maybe that was karma; maybe that was you, Santa. But we’ve been good. We started showing up to meetings, occasionally on time. We’ve learned about spell-check — who knew that existed? We even got on Bluesky. We’re keeping up.
Oh, Santa, we only have a few things on our list this year, and we put them all in our gift guide for our readers. We’re sure they’d like some things from our list, too. They like to support local businesses. So you don’t mind that we put it all in print, do you? And that we tell our readers to also get their gifts for their loved ones from these shops and makers? We can only write so much; being so good these days has made us so tired. So, yes, Santa, your letter and our gift guide will have to pull double-duty. Take it or leave it. And, readers, please do take it; don’t leave it.
Flashback
Millett and Gene Vance describe their well-known emporium on Central Avenue as a “vintage department store,” and that’s a very good description. They should know. The couple opened Flashback in 1984, just in time for Christmas that year. Forty years later, they’re still at it. Describing the kaleidoscope of merchandise inside is a challenge because there’s just so much of it. It’s a world-class vault of collectibles — everything you could imagine, and much you couldn’t begin to. You’ll find clothes from several eras, hats of all kinds, kitchenware and glassware, posters and paintings, groovy new mobiles, funky furniture, fun-house mirrors, and even a giant mounted swordfish. Go in and poke around. There’s probably something at Flashback for everyone on your gift list, no matter your budget. Get funky. — Bruce VanWyngarden 2304 Central Avenue, (901) 272-2304, flashbackmemphis.com
9906 Candle Co.
Candles and fragrances are key to setting the perfect vibes. Whether you’re trying to curate the ultimate homey experience or looking to mimic the ambience of that luxurious getaway you find yourself slipping back to, scents can help you achieve that goal. This holiday season, instead of setting an alarm to stand in line at a mass-market retailer, consider supporting a local Black-owned business that specializes in hand-poured, coconut soy candles and skin-safe room and linen fragrance mists.
9906 Candle Co. is a Memphis-based brand founded by Denise Weary. Weary’s brand is driven by “the philosophy of providing luxurious yet affordable home fragrance.” The founder goes on to say that her products reflect her commitment to simplicity and elegance with her minimalistic and charming packaging.
“Are you ready to treat your nose, treat your space? We’re out here changing atmospheres,” the company asserts.
Some of the “best smellers” include the Coco and Cedar candle with scents of jasmine, vanilla, coconut, and sandalwood, and the Sweet Stones mist with notes of citrus, cranberry, champagne, musk, praline, and caramel. Other scents include Lure, Floral Cacti, and Mandarin Escape.
You can purchase an item directly from the website at 9906candleco.com, or you can shop a local pop-up this holiday season, such as the Lightfoot Farm Market in Millington on Saturday, December 7th, or the Holiday Market at the Memphis Farmers Market on Saturday, December 14th. — Kailynn Johnson 9906candleco.com
River City Records (Photo: Chris McCoy)
River City Records
The vinyl records boom shows no sign of slowing down. This year, the hot records are all by women artists, says Chris Braswell, owner of River City Records. “A lot of the new pop artists are women, like Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, Sabrina Carpenter, [Charli XCX] Brat, and Chappell Roan. She was on Saturday Night Live three weeks ago, I believe. I didn’t see it, but I had several people come in Sunday saying, ‘Did you see Chappell Roan last night?’”
Now entering its fourth year of operation at 101 S. Main, River City Records has a huge selection of music, and the equipment to play it on. “Our turntables have been really popular,” says Braswell. “People are still getting turntables for Christmas, and we’ve got several to choose from.”
If you don’t know what to get, don’t despair. “People sometimes don’t know the right album to buy for somebody, or if they’ve already got that particular album of a certain artist. Gift cards are really popular here, so they can stroll through the store and decide what record they want.”
River City Records’ Dave Anderson says there’s even more to choose from. “We’ve got vintage T-shirts, and then we’ve got our own brand, and other studios. Our T-shirts are really popular.”
Braswell says to be on the lookout for specials this holiday season. “We’re gonna have a big $2 record sale. We’ll have 12 to 14 crates of $2 records. That’s a good way for people to add to their collection on the cheap.” — Chris McCoy 101 South Main, (901) 359-5597, rivercityrecordshop.com
Memphis Arts Collective Holiday Market (Photo: Alex Greene)
Memphis Arts Collective Holiday Market
Feeling a little disgruntled with the standard corporate online shopping options, I decided to gift locally made art to friends and family this holiday season. And as soon as I stumbled upon their unassuming holiday-only storefront in Gattas Plaza, near the Knowledge Tree, I knew I’d found the right place. Through those double doors, a world of color opened up like I’d landed in Oz, as I surveyed the booths of nearly three dozen craftspeople and their wares, with all manner of pottery, glass, jewelry, metal, fabric and fiber, mixed media, and photography on display before me. What’s more, the vibe was pleasant and welcoming, perhaps because of a kind built-in camaraderie among members of the Memphis Arts Collective, organizer of the holiday market.
Cat Snyder, a glass sculptor who’s selling her work there, as well as helping to produce the event, was just as enthused about the other members’ handiwork as her own. “Oh, you’ll love Brian Maness’ stained glass over there! And there’s an incredible potter next to him,” she exclaimed. I was drawn in by both the conviviality and the vivid artwork, from objets d’art to paintings to prints to hats to cards, all fresh out of the artists’ studios, looking for the perfect wall, shelf, or wardrobe to call home. — Alex Greene Gattas Plaza, 4998 Summer Avenue, through December 24th, Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. | Sunday, noon-5 p.m. | closed Thanksgiving Day | Christmas Eve, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | silent auction to benefit Miracle League of Memphis, memphisartscollective.com/holiday-artist-market
Photo: Courtesy Hound Dog Apparel | Facebooks
Hound Dog Apparel
You’ve seen someone wearing that bright yellow T-shirt from the old Buccaneer Lounge and thought you’d been out-Memphised.
It must be the best thrift store find of all time, you thought. But it looks so new. How did …? But you push the question away before allowing yourself to truly consider the person might be a time traveler.
While not a traveler, per se, Rachel Ford does have a time machine. Her Hound Dog Apparel can transport Memphians back to an age when lemongrass tofu flowed freely from Pho Binh, browsing at Bookstar was an option, and birthdays were made for Celebration Station.
The small, locally owned and operated clothing company specializes in reproductions and reimaginings of some of your favorite bygone Memphis establishments stretching all the way back to the ’70s. If you’ve spent any time in Memphis over the last few decades you’re sure to find a solid dose of nostalgia browsing through their tees.
Hound Dog is not a one-trick pony, though. (Though, you can find a design from The Pony, iykyk.) There’s a Barbie/barbecue mash-up you never knew you needed. There’s also plenty of Grizz and Tigers shirts to make you stand out in the crowd. Only the truly enlightened Memphian will grasp the timely nostalgia of Hound Dog’s “Knuc-ee’s” tee. *chef’s kiss*
Hound Dog can be found at most major festivals around town — just look for the booth with the giant crowd around it. But if you can’t make it to town, place your order by December 5th to ensure it’s on time for the holidays. — Toby Sells hounddogapparel.com
Jimmy Crosthwait’s clocks and chimes (Photo: Michael Donahue)
Jimmy Crosthwait’s Clocks and Chimes
Give people more time for the holidays. As in a Zen clock made by Jimmy Crosthwait.
The puppeteer, artist, and musician (who co-founded Mudboy and the Neutrons and now plays with Sons of Mudboy) is again offering his Zen clocks and Zen chimes as well as his candlestick sculptures at WinterArts. He also will be featuring new pieces which he calls “Karmic Wheels.”
“The Wheel of Karma is a Hindu and Buddhist concept of just life and rebirth and death and rebirth,” Crosthwait says. “How you live this life will determine your status in the next life. … I’m taking a certain artistic license when I design these.”
The wooden pieces are about 21 inches across, he says. “And have, for the most part, ceramic centers with spokes radiating out to the rim.”
The spokes are metal wires onto which Crosthwait threads beads. Some of the pieces, which are stained, have appliqués around them. Others are etched into the wood around the hub with a laser printer. “Some are cut out of a Masonite-like material,” he says. “And I will glue that to the wood and stain it.”
Crosthwait, whose clocks have no hands or moving parts, says the pieces essentially look like clocks. They’re round and they have a pendulum. But there are no hands.
This year, Crosthwait’s clocks are a little bit different. “I was mostly putting them on serving trays, platters. And I would have pendulums hanging down that were usually some sort of metal or tinsel. This year, I’m doing, essentially, a lot of wooden pieces that have either appliqué on the rims or are etched with the laser printer. Just carved into the wooden circles.”
Some feature spoons containing “a little ceramic orb to complement the ceramic centers of the clock.” — Michael Donahue WinterArts, The Shops of Saddle Creek, 7509 Poplar Avenue, Germantown, November 30th-December 24th, winterarts.org
Five in One Social Club (Photo: Abigail Morici)
Five in One Social Club
For those who like to get crafty — whether the gifter or the giftee — Five in One Social Club is the place to go. For starters, it’s full of stationery, crafting supplies, embroidery kits, felting kits, and locally made goods from Memphis-y T-shirts to Baby Creep’s creepy baby vases, all of which have great gifting potential.
But the shop also offers a whole calendar of craft workshops, including Stained Glass Ornaments on December 10th and Woodburning Ornaments on December 28th. Now, the options with these workshops and gift-giving are endless, kinda. You can a) make something in one of these workshops to give to your recipient (throwback to childhood DIYs you gave to your parents; these will look better though, hopefully, depending on your skill level); b) you can bring your fellow crafty giftee to a workshop with you (quality time = the gift a lifetime, as long as your presence isn’t god awful); or c) you can get your loved one a Five in One Social Club gift card to choose a workshop they can attend with someone whose company they actually enjoy any day of the year — well, mostly, there’s a calendar and all.
Five in One Social Club is also featured in the Women-Owned Passport, through which shoppers who visit certain women-owned businesses can collect stamps and receive a special offer with purchase between now and December 31st. If you collect stamps from every shop, you’ll be entered for a chance to win one of three prizes valued at over $300. The best part? You’ll be supporting women-owned businesses! There are 17 businesses participating, but I’ve reached my word limit, so … I can’t list them all. Sorry! I recommend you Google “Women-Owned Passport Memphis” or follow this link here. Happy shopping! — Abigail Morici 2575 Summer Avenue, (901) 308-2104, fiveinonesocialclub.com
Pile of Threads (Photo: Courtesy Pile of Threads)
Pile of Threads
Everyone loves a bit of embroidery to add just the right amount of pizzazz to any garment, and Pile of Threads does it best. With recycled, hand-dyed, neon-embroidered totes proclaiming “I Love Memphis Women” and cheeky “F Around & Find Out” baseball caps, Pile of Threads has something for just about anyone. Especially because you can also get customized work. That includes monograms, lettering, pet portraits, pennants, custom patches, small designs, embroidered jeans, wall art — just about anything you can think of. All you have to do is fill out the form provided on pileofthreads.com and allow three to four weeks for owner Whit Washington — the self-proclaimed “Stitch Bitch in Charge” — to work her magic on her 100-year-old embroidery machine.
Washington also has items available for purchase at Stock & Belle and Falling into Place. And she’ll be hosting a pop-up shop during WYXR’s Raised by Sound Fest’s after-party on December 7th, with vintage goodies on hand for you to get embroidered — or you can bring your own. Items should be 100% cotton, non-stretch material like denim or canvas. Prices begin at $30 for this service. Sounds like the perfect stitchuation. — AM pileofthreads.com, Stock & Belle, 387 South Main | Falling Into Place, 2613 Broad Avenue | Raised by Sound Fest’s After Party, Crosstown Concourse, 1350 Concourse, Saturday, December 7, 9-11 p.m.
Right here last week we poked fun at a big typo in The Commercial Appeal with a legacy headline “Dammit Gannett.” We left off a “t” at the end of Gannett in a typo-inside-a-typo-meta-Inception kind of situation. We regret the error!
The Business
Speaking of newspapers, The Daily Memphian launched its online marketplace last week. The first item listed was an anti-circumcision book titled “This Penis Business.” History, folks.
Prepare
Posted to Facebook by The Damn Weather of Memphis
Speaking of penises, “prepare for penetration,” wrote The Damn Weather of Memphis about last week’s bomb cycle weather event that brought cooler temps here.
The holiday classic “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” is now the official Holiday Song of Tennessee and its singer is set to be recognized next week.
The song was officially designated as a state song earlier this year, with legislation filed in December 2023 by Rep. Jason Powell (D-Nashville). The bill was signed into law by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee in April. The song’s performer, Brenda Lee, a longtime Nashvillian, is set to receive a proclamation on the designation next week.
The song was recorded in the heart of Nashville’s Music Row at Quonset Hut Studio and produced by Owen Bradly. It was written by Johnny Marks, who seemingly had no connection to Tennessee. He specialized in Christmas songs, although he was Jewish and did not celebrate Christmas, according to Wikipedia. Marks wrote “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “A Holly Jolly Christmas,” “Silver and Gold,” and many others.
Lee is the first woman inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame. She was 13 when she recorded “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” in 1958.
When Powell filed the legislation last year, the song had just topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the very first time, 65 years after its initial release. That’s the longest stretch ever between a record release and it’s hitting No 1. “Rockin’” remained at No. 1 for three weeks.
Lee also became the oldest female ever to hit No. 1 on the chart. She also now holds the record for the longest gap between an artist’s first and most recent week at No. 1 on the Hot 100. Her first No. 1 single was “I’m Sorry” in 1960.
“Brenda Lee is a music icon and a true Tennessee treasure,” Powell said in a statement. “‘Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree’ has spread holiday joy throughout the world for decades and we are proud her No. 1 song was made in Nashville. I am thrilled that my legislation made the beloved ‘Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree’ by Brenda Lee the first official holiday song of Tennessee.”
Brenda Lee will receive the proclamation in a ceremony at the Tennessee State Capitol on Monday, December 2nd.
Tennessee has 10 official state songs, including “Rocky Top,” “A Tennessee Bicentennial Rap: 1796-1996,” and “Smoky Mountain Rain.” Steve Earle’s “Copperhead Road” was made an official state song this year. However, until now, Tennessee has had no official state holiday song.
Tennessee leaders continue to push legislation they say would protect kids online, but civil rights groups say promotes censorship.
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti led a group of 31 attorneys general from red and blue states earlier this week urging Congress to pass the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). The bill is sponsored by Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee).
The law would require some mandatory safety protections for minors on social media sites such as TikTok and Facebook. These would be the strongest settings available up front, said Skrmetti, “rather than burying these features behind opt-in screens.”
The KOSA would also take away what Blackburn called “manipulative design features and algorithmic recommendations that keep children endlessly scrolling.” It would also give parents new tools “to identify harmful behaviors and improved capabilities to report dangerous content,” Blackburn said in a statement.
In the letter to Congress this week, Skrmetti was joined by AGs from conservative states such as Alabama and Mississippi but also such progressive states as New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
“As the chief legal officers of our states, we’ve seen firsthand how social media companies prioritize profits over our kids’ safety,” Skrmetti said in a statement. “KOSA provides additional tools to protect children’s mental health from the harmful effects of social media.”
Despite bipartisan support, KOSA has drawn criticism from civil rights groups such as the ACLU, which argues the bill could infringe on First Amendment rights. Critics contend that provisions requiring platforms to prevent harm could lead to censorship of legitimate and educational content, particularly around sensitive topics such as sexual health and mental wellness. The group heavily criticized the bill when the Senate passed it in July.
“KOSA compounds nationwide attacks on young peoples’ right to learn and access information,” said Jenna Leventoff, senior policy counsel at the ACLU. “As state legislatures and school boards across the country impose book bans and classroom censorship laws, the last thing students and parents need is another act of government censorship deciding which educational resources are appropriate for their families.”
The ACLU said that the list of design features outlined in the bill are defined so broadly that platforms would likely have to censor any content that was found objectionable by the government. That content could include anything from sexual health resources to information about gender identity, or how to get help for an eating disorder.
Anjali Verma, a 17-year-old student, also voiced concerns about the legislation’s potential to harm rather than protect youth. “It’s called the Kids Online Safety Act, but they have to consider kids’ voices, and some of us don’t think it will make us safer,” Verma said in a statement. “We live on the internet, and we are afraid that important information we’ve accessed all our lives will no longer be available. We need lawmakers to listen to young people when making decisions that affect us.”
The AGs’ letter says social media platforms target minors, know their products are addictive, but only care about the bottom line. “Many social media platforms target minors, resulting in a national youth mental health catastrophe,” reads the letter. “These platforms make their products addictive to minor users, and then profit from selling minor user data to advertisers.
“These platforms fail to disclose the addicting nature of their products, nor the harms associated with increased social media use. Instead, minor users receive endless tailored and toxic content. Further, increasing evidence suggests these platforms are aware of the negative mental health effects social media burdens its underage users with, but choose to continue these practices.”
A Dallas-based internet personality was convicted to 10 years in federal prison in late October on charges that she hired hits on three online rivals, including one in Southaven.
Ashley Grayson gained notoriety for her online content related to credit repair. In 2021, Grayson had a falling out with a woman from Southaven who operated an online business similar to hers, according to Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee. Grayson suspected the Southaven woman of creating fake online profiles that criticized Grayson and her business. The pair never met in person.
In August 2022, Grayson asked a Memphis woman, with whom she had worked in the past, to fly to Dallas to discuss a “business opportunity.” The Memphis woman and her husband went to Dallas in early September 2022 and met with Grayson and her husband.
Grayson offered to pay the Memphis couple to kill three different people: the Southaven woman, Grayson’s former boyfriend, and a Texas woman who had made negative social media posts about Grayson. For each murder, Grayson offered to pay at least $20,000.
In September 2022, the Memphis woman video-recorded a call to Grayson where Grayson confirmed that she wanted the Southaven woman killed as soon as possible and offered an extra $5,000 for the murder to be carried out in the next week.
Later, the Memphis couple sent Grayson a picture of police lights from an unrelated incident in Memphis to fake that they had attempted to carry out Grayson’s murder-for-hire but were unsuccessful. They demanded $10,000 (half of the promised price) from Grayson for the attempt. The Memphis couple went to Dallas where they met with Grayson and her husband and received $10,000 from them for the fake attempt.
Grayson and her husband, Joshua, were indicted for the plot in the Western District of Tennessee. After a week-long trial on March 2024, Joshua was acquitted but Ashley was found guilty. In late October, United States District Court Judge Thomas Parker sentenced Ashley Grayson to 10 years in federal prison, the maximum sentence for the crime.
“This was a 21st-century crime where online feuds and senseless rivalries bled into the real world,” Fondren said in a statement. “The defendant tried to hire someone to murder a woman over things that happened exclusively on the internet.
“Fortunately, no one was physically hurt in this case, but the victim and her family still felt a severe and emotional impact as the result of the defendant’s actions. The proactive response from the investigating agencies and our prosecutors prevented an even more serious crime from occurring.”
