Marina Joyce: Women who appeared in her cryptic video respond to conspiracy theories

The two women are part of a video that has been viewed more than 4 million times and has led a huge controversy to erupt around the vlogger

Andrew Griffin
Wednesday 27 July 2016 18:46 BST
Comments
(Marina Joyce/YouTube)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The two woman who appeared in the now famous Marina Joyce video have spoken out about the ensuing controversy.

The YouTube post – called “DATE OUTFIT IDEAS” – has been viewed millions of times since it was posted earlier this week. Many of those views are a result of the controversy that has surrounded it – which has included people claiming that the video shows she has been kidnapped by Isis, or that she is otherwise endangered.

Many of those claims came because of the strange behaviour of Joyce in the post. Some claim that they heard her say “help me” during the video, and others claim to have found yet more evidence that it was made under duress.

But the women who appeared alongside her in the video have spoken out to say that she has not been harmed. Though Joyce is on her own through most of the video, one part that appears to have been shot in a park includes two other women.

They have now asked that people stop asking about her safety and have assured fans and other concerned people not to worry.

“Stop asking me about Marina,” posted one on Twitter. “She is okay and well and I am not going to tell the world about her private life, it’s not my place.

“Just know that she is okay, Alisha [who also appears in the video] is okay, and I myself am OKAY.

“I haven’t been posting because I have been busy and can’t answer 1000+ messages :( I will post a video on my channel in 2 days.”

Alisha, who appears alongside Anastasia and Joyce in the post, echoed those concerns in a Facebook post that went up as online discussion blew up.

“Stop asking me if Marina is okay and then not believing me when I tell you,” she wrote in the post.

“Just leave me the f*** alone if you're not going to trust what I say. Why are you even asking if you aren't even going to believe me?

“You're all deluded. Marina isn't being abused and she hasn't been kidnapped. That is 100% true.

Who is Marina Joyce?

“If you are still concerned that she has other problems in her personal life then fair enough, but don't expect me to tell you my friends business. I'll support her through anything, I will help her through anything.”

Joyce's mother has also spoken out to ask that fans stop looking into conspiracy theories and other suggestions. She appeared alongside her daughter in a livestream where she said that the claims about Joyce's videos were untrue.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in