Clancy trial sparks disturbing social media trends, behaviour

Mothers posting macabre videos with infants in support of mom who killed her three small children Lindsay Clancy looks on as jurors (out of frame) enter the courtroom during her murder trial at the Plymouth County Superior Court in Plymouth, Massachusetts, on Sept.4, 2026. Photo by GREG DERR / POOL/AFP via Getty Images See more Toronto Sun on Google — save as a Preferred Source This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The trial of Lindsay Clancy — the mother who killed her three small children in a fit of what her defence lawyers called postpartum psychosis — has sparked a number of disturbing trends on social media. The case, which was declared a mistrial after an 11-1 jury deadlock, gained worldwide media attention and started intense debates over a number of issues: criminal accountability, limited resources for women who suffer postpartum disorders and a growing public divide over such issues. 'Toxic empathy' But worse than that are growing online trends across social media reacting to the Clancy trial and its conclusion. Along with the expected Monday morning quarterbacking, social media users are posting macabre clips with their babies in support of the murderous mom — some have mothers directly in front of the camera rocking their infants back and forth with captions reading 'Same, Lindsay,' or 'Me Too, Lindsay,' with the soundtrack of Clancy's private writings about how she was overwhelmed as a parent and was struggling with mental illness. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Critics have said while one can sympathize with serious mental illness, tearfully mugging for the camera with an infant in support of a woman who killed her children crosses the line — especially when they get clicks and likes for it. Author Allie Beth Stuckey calls support for Clancy a form of 'toxic empathy.' 'The Lindsay Clancy support is why I use the term 'toxic empathy' rather than 'suicidal empathy,'' Stuckey posted on X. 'Suicidal empathy is just one of the toxic forms of empathy, but it doesn't describe much of what we see from liberal women today. The deep empathy they feel for Lindsay isn't suicidal but homicidal. It does not endanger them; it endangers others. 'Toxic Empathy is when you allow your deep feelings for one person to blind you to both reality and morality. So focused are you on the plight of one group or individual that you forget about those on the other side of the moral equation.' Dating screener Another online trend has users declaring whether they'll date somebody based on their opinions on Clancy. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Posted one user: 'If I want to date a man, first date question I'm always going to be asking him is 'Do you think Lindsay Clancy should go to jail for what she did?' And if that man says yes, I'm getting up and walking out right then and there.' Real-time dangers The trends are having effects offline. An Illinois woman now stands accused of killing her 2-year-old son last week and faces three counts of first-degree murder. According to witnesses, Corrie Walsh, 40, 'had recently become very invested in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial' and talked about it on a regular basis in an online group chat with friends almost up until when her son was found slain, according to CNN. Celebrity World World Canada Toronto Maple Leafs