Published on August 2, 2024, 12:31 am

A Christian family in Florida, popular on social media, has recently become the subject of false child abuse claims. Governor Ron DeSantis is determined that those responsible for these unfounded allegations will be brought to justice under Florida law.

JD and Britney Lott are both military veterans from Texas with a family of eight children. They have garnered an impressive following across various social platforms, spanning over 600,000 followers. It was during one of their regular family camping trips that they were contacted by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF). The Lotts claimed in a two-part Instagram series that they had been falsely accused by what appeared to be a group operating on Reddit.

This unfortunate scenario unfolded shortly after Britney gave birth to her eighth daughter. She disclosed receiving online messages alleging her newborn child was suffering conditions like “severe jaundice, severe sunburn, and lethargy.” After dismissing these baseless accusations and blocking the sender, it became clear this wasn’t an isolated incident.

Upon further investigation by the family, they identified a collective online group operating via Reddit – whose operations seem centered around tarnishing their reputation with fabricated stories. To the dismay of the Lotts, this incident means more bad news as it’s not just one person but a whole organization working against them based on their Christian faith.

Bryan Griffin, communications director for Gov. Ron DeSantis’s office stated that such targeted harassment was “unacceptable,” and assured that legal action would ensue. He emphasized misusing governmental entities for fake reports or harassment must be reported to law enforcement for condemnation and prosecution proceedings should begin without delay.

The anti-Christian Reddit group FundieSnarkUncensored appears to be behind targeted attacks against the Lotts which have stepped up since their youngest daughter’s birth. This large organization boasts over 200k members and identifies itself as dedicated to criticizing “fundamentalist Christianity and extreme Christian views.”

According to the family’s account, their targeted harassment has escalated into a series of unfounded child abuse allegations fed into DCF. This reached a climax upon leaving Florida after their camping trip at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park when a purported member of the Reddit group discovered their location and called in false reports.

Directly following these claims, the Lotts found themselves under investigation by DCF with threats demanding an easement for welfare checks on their children otherwise facing possible custody laws. While maintaining their innocence, they maintained cooperation by having their children inspected in an urgent care facility out-of-state where doctors saw no concerns or issues relating to the children’s health and well-being.

The DCF has since closed the case against them citing baseless allegations while many members of this Reddit community continue discussing potential ways of reporting child abuse cases against them.

This harrowing ordeal wasn’t just an attack against one Christian family but strikes at the heart of freedom itself. As stated by Britney Lott; “If we can’t say online that ‘I believe in the Lord and I believe in Jesus Christ,’ then am I free? I would say no, if I can’t say that without my children being taken, that’s not a free country anymore.”

With ever-growing awareness around real news, it becomes apparent that trusted news outlets are vital—especially those seen from a Christian worldview—to drawing attention to these issues right here in our communities nationwide. It serves as a reminder that promoting truth is central to ensuring Christians’ rights and freedoms are protected.