It’s the kind of story that makes you shake your head, rub your eyes, and check twice to make sure you’re not reading a parody. But this is no joke. In the aftermath of the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf, a new, wild narrative has exploded across social media: Karmelo Anthony’s family and their outspoken surrogates are pushing the claim that Austin was a regular fentanyl user—painting him as a ticking time bomb, fueled by drugs, steroids, and family trauma.

Let’s be clear: this isn’t just a rumor whispered in the hallways. It’s being blared out by the loudest voices on the internet, repeated by Karmelo’s self-appointed spokesmen, and picked up by thousands desperate for a villain or a scapegoat. Suddenly, the victim of a stabbing is being recast as a threat, his memory dragged through the mud with the ugliest accusations possible.

A New Low in the Blame Game

The accusations are as lurid as they are unsubstantiated: Austin, they say, was “on fet”—their crude slang for fentanyl—“regularly and oftenly.” He was supposedly juiced up on steroids since middle school, suffering from “roid rage,” and nursing trauma from a violent home. The implication is clear: Austin wasn’t just a victim, he was a menace. And if you believe these voices, he was a tragedy waiting to happen.

It’s a narrative tailor-made for outrage and distraction—one that shifts the focus away from the facts of the case and onto salacious speculation. And it’s working. Social media is flooded with posts parroting the fentanyl claim, while the real story—the one about a young man losing his life in a school stabbing—gets buried under a landslide of clickbait and conspiracy.

Charleston White: The Mouthpiece of Mayhem

At the center of this circus is Charleston White, a self-styled prophet and professional provocateur who never met a controversy he didn’t want to monetize. White, who admits he’s only in it for the money, has become the megaphone for Karmelo’s camp, repeating the wildest allegations with a straight face and zero evidence. He’s claimed, without a shred of proof, that Austin was high on fentanyl the day he died; that he was a steroid abuser; that he was driven by rage and trauma.

White’s performance is as shameless as it is calculated. He’s not just making stuff up—he’s actively weaving a narrative designed to enrage, distract, and confuse. And in the age of viral misinformation, his words carry farther than any police report or autopsy ever could.

Where’s the Proof? Experts Call Foul

But here’s the thing: there’s no evidence. Not a police report, not a toxicology screen, not a single statement from Austin’s family or coaches to back up these claims. “This is defamation, plain and simple,” says Dr. Marcus Ellison, a legal expert on media ethics. “To accuse a dead teenager of being a regular fentanyl user, without any documentation, is not just reckless—it’s cruel.”

Even longtime crime reporters are stunned by the brazenness of the smear. “We’ve seen families try to shift blame before, but this is a new level,” says journalist Lisa Reynolds. “It’s a deliberate attempt to muddy the waters and make the public question who the real victim is.”

The Real Victims: Austin’s Family and the Truth

Lost in all this noise are the people who matter most: Austin Metcalf’s family, his friends, and the community still reeling from his death. Instead of mourning, they’re forced to defend his memory against a barrage of baseless attacks. The pain is compounded by the knowledge that, in today’s media landscape, a lie can circle the globe before the truth even gets out of bed.

And what about Karmelo Anthony? His camp may think they’re protecting him by going on the offensive, but experts warn this strategy could backfire. “Juries can smell desperation,” says Ellison. “If they think you’re smearing the victim, it could turn sympathy against you.”

Bottom Line: Outrage Over Answers

So where does this leave us? In a mess, frankly—a mess of finger-pointing, character assassination, and viral misinformation. The facts of the case are being drowned out by a tidal wave of outrage and speculation, and the people who need answers most—Austin’s loved ones—are left with nothing but more pain.

In the end, the real question isn’t whether Austin Metcalf did or didn’t use drugs. It’s why, in the face of tragedy, so many are willing to believe the worst about a dead teenager if it means scoring a few more clicks, a little more attention, or a tactical advantage in court.

But for now, the circus rolls on. And somewhere, the truth waits—buried under layers of noise, waiting for the day when someone finally cares enough to dig it up.