An Ohio woman accused of racially profiling a Black real estate agent, Mike Jenkins, after a viral video emerged online has denied the allegations. In a video posted on Facebook on January 18, 2025, Michelle Bishop, who identified herself as the woman in the video, denied being a racist and insisted that she was unaware of Jenkins’ race during the November 2024 incident.
On the same day, the popular Instagram account The Neighborhood Talk shared the video, which claimed that Jenkins, a real estate developer from Ohio, had been racially profiled by Bishop. According to the video, Bishop, who was jogging with her two young children, believed Jenkins was following her. The incident, which occurred on November 19, 2024, unfolded when Bishop reportedly ran to a nearby house for help, fearing Jenkins, who was driving, was pursuing her.
It turned out that the house Bishop ran to for assistance was actually Jenkins’ home. When Jenkins pulled into his driveway and inquired if she was looking for someone, Bishop asked if he was the homeowner. After he confirmed he was, she reportedly responded, “I don’t believe that,” before running away down the street, screaming for help with her children in tow. The video of this encounter quickly went viral, sparking widespread backlash against Bishop, with many accusing her of racial bias.
In response to the viral video and public outcry, Michelle Bishop posted a lengthy defense on Facebook, where she denied the accusations and reiterated that she was not motivated by racism during the interaction.
