2023 in review: The upsetting murder of Brianna Ghey, 16-year-old transgender TikToker

A tragic incident in 2023 caused this girl's picture to circulate all over social media. Brianna Ghey, a British transgender content creator, was brutally murdered at just 16 years old in February this year.

Photo: Brianna Ghey / Twitter

It happened on February 11, in a park in the English town of Warrington, Cheshire. The young woman was taking a walk in the park when she was assaulted and stabbed to death, as reported by The Mirror.

Brianna Ghey was well known on the social media platform TikTok, where she had more than 30,000 followers. The girl recounted her day-to-day life, shared dance moves, and showed new fashion trends.

Photo: Brianna Ghey / Twitter

After her death, several platforms decided to take down Brianna Ghey's accounts. It further outraged her followers, who were already shocked by the murder.

Brianna Ghey's body was found lifeless at around 3:15 p.m. on February 11.

Initially, as reported by The Guardian, the police requested citizen collaboration to collect as many clues as possible.

After a few days, The Guardian points out, police detained a 15-year-old boy and a girl. They were arrested for their possible involvement in the crime. Yet, no further information has been provided in this regard.

The authorities do not rule out a hate crime, due to Brianna Ghey's identity as a transgender woman. It had already caused her problems over the years.

"She was bullied and gang beaten for years for the simple reason of being trans," Brianna Ghey's friends told The Mirror.

In protest and tribute, friends and sympathizers held a vigil outside St. George's Hall in Liverpool. Candles and flowers served to remember the young social media influencer and unite the LGTBIQ+ community with a clear and direct motto: "Transphobia kills."

On social media like Twitter and Instagram, messages of support for family and friends circulated after the news came out. Followers have posted loving messages with Brianna Ghey in memory.

"Brianna was a much-loved daughter, granddaughter, and baby sister. She was a larger-than-life character who would leave a lasting impression on all that met her," the family commented through the authorities.

Sadly, the wave of affection for Brianna Ghey has been marred by derogatory remarks from bullies and transphobic commenters on social media. Her friends have denounced such attacks.

Driven by transphobia, hundreds of messages on social media celebrated Brianna Ghey's death. It gives a dark impression of what day-to-day life must have been like for the young influencer.

In any case, the GoFundMe campaign to help the family, organized by friends of the girl, raised much more money than it had aimed for. The goal was to raise £4,216 and the donations have already surpassed £85,000.

The money will not get Brianna Ghey back, but it will help with the burial and related expenses of this heinous crime.