By Dennis McCaslin, Editor and Publisher of Today in Fort Smith
It seems that no matter how many times we address the issue, rumors continue to swirl that Northwest Arkansas true crime author, podcaster, film director, and nonprofit executive, LaDonna Humphrey, is somehow writing for Today in Fort Smith. I want to set the record straight once and for all: these claims are entirely baseless.
LaDonna Humphrey has not contributed to Today in Fort Smith in a number of years. Trust me. I have begged, cajoled, tried to use our friendship to shame her into reconsidering, and even offered her an outrageous sum (compared to what we usually pay contributors) per article and for reasons of her own that have nothing to do with Today in Fort Smith, she has refused.
It's time for everyone to accept the truth: LaDonna Humphrey is not a part of this publication and, given the harassment she has endured at the hands of online trolls, will likely never return. LaDonna refused to comment, and frankly, I don't blame her for wanting to distance herself from this ridiculous situation.
Despite this, certain individuals, particularly internet trolls, seem intent on spreading falsehoods that she is secretly controlling this publication and penning articles on arson, serial killers, and other sensational topics.
Let me be clear--none of that is remotely true. These people have aligned themselves with others (and they all know who they are) to not only harass me, my family, my advertisers and even my readers, to the point of criminality on their part.
Adding to the controversy is tabloid podcaster Javier Leiva, who seems intent on perpetuating these falsehoods.
Leiva’s podcast frequently features interviews with individuals of questionable repute, including a former plus-size death fetish porn star, multiple felons convicted of violent crimes, and even a former Today in Fort Smith contributor from Alma who was dismissed for misusing her press credentials and producing subpar work.
Now, Javier is using his platform to further spread these baseless rumors.
As I reported earlier this month, Javier Leiva himself is not without a checkered past, having been convicted of a DUI in North Carolina. It's ironic that someone with his own past issues would focus so heavily on spreading misinformation about others.
In response to the serious defamation spread by Javier Leiva and his network of internet trolls, Today in Fort Smith and I, Dennis McCaslin, are actively pursuing legal avenues to address this issue.
I am particularly keen on the discovery process, as our private investigator has strong reasons to believe that one of these trolls is the mayor of a small town neighboring Fort Smith. My readers can expect updates on this story as it unfolds.
I am determined to put these rumors to rest, and while I await my day in court, I remain fully committed to delivering the factual reporting that my readers have come to expect from Today in Fort Smith.
