Judge Lifts Social Media Gag Order on Heather Wyatt

PASCAGOULA, Miss – Chancery Court Judge Mark Maples lifted Heather Wyatt’s social media gag order during a hearing on Thursday afternoon in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Heather Wyatt, from Ocean Springs, claims that bullying led her 13-year-old daughter, Aubreigh Wyatt, who died by suicide. Earlier this week, the parents of the other children involved dropped their defamation case against the mother.

Judge Maples also requested Child Protective Services investigate the safety of all minor children involved. This includes Wyatt’s other children, a 16-year-old daughter and a 7-year-old son, as well as the teenage girls accused of bullying Aubreigh. The investigation results will be submitted to the Jackson County Youth Court’s Intake Unit, according to the Sun Herald.

The original gag order stemmed from Wyatt’s violation of a court agreement made in November, which prohibited Wyatt and one of the mothers of the accused bullies from harassing each other. Wyatt violated this agreement through a TikTok video where she implied that her teenage daughter would reveal the names of those involved.

#JusticeForAubreigh

Wyatt used TikTok to grieve and share memories of her daughter, discussing Aubreigh’s favorite color and interests, while also addressing the dangers of online bullying. After the case regarding her daughter’s death concluded, Wyatt made a post in frustration suggesting her daughter might release the names of the accused bullies.

However, it was a viral TikTok video of Heather finding her daughter’s suicide notes that sparked a wave of posts under the hashtag #JusticeForAubreigh, naming the alleged bullies. The viral post led to an increase in harassment and threats toward the minors accused of bullying Aubreigh, including the release of their names and the address of one child. This escalation in threats prompted Judge Maples to issue the original gag order.

In court, Wyatt expressed remorse in a letter to the judge, stating, “Please know that I did not intentionally set out to violate your order. I was distraught over my daughter’s death, and I acted emotionally and without considering that my actions could be in violation of your order.”

Social Media Reinstatement

The judge reinstated Wyatt’s social media privileges with conditions also applying to the girls’ parents. These conditions include:

• No social media statements implying anyone involved in the case bullied Aubreigh or played a role in her death.
• No publication of names, parents, minor children, or identifying details.
• No harassment, stalking, or threatening of any parties involved.
• Immediate notification to lawyers and law enforcement of any threats to the safety and well-being of any adults or minor children.

According to the report made by the Sun Herald, Maples opened the court file, but also ordered names redacted from the court record to avoid identifying the children. Those exposing the minors on social media, he said, made “a mockery” of the court and “obliterated” its efforts to protect the minors.