Influencer Rosie Graham has hit back at criticism following her appearance in Netflix's The Crash. The viral true crime documentary follows a tragic car crash that killed two young men, Dominic Russo, 20, and Davion Flanagan, 19. The driver, 17-year-old Mackenzie Shirilla, survived but was left seriously injured.
What police initially thought was a fatal accident later turned into a murder case. During a trial in August 2023, prosecutors argued that Shirilla intentionally crashed the car. She was found guilty by the judge, who gave her two 15-to-life sentences.
Shirilla's friends and family recount the events leading up to the tragedy in the Netflix film, with her friend Rosie Graham offering her perspective.
Who is Rosie Graham?
Graham is a huge fitness influencer with over a million subscribers on YouTube. She has a further 982,000 followers on TikTok and 23,600 on Instagram. She primarily shares workout routines on her social media pages, as well as comedic skits.
While Graham has built a strong fanbase, her appearance in the Netflix documentary has sparked backlash. She is featured retelling the events of the night before Shirilla crashed the car. Viewers have claimed Graham's recount is biased and makes too many excuses for Shirilla's actions. The content creator has since addressed backlash on her social media.
Rosie's statement in full
Taking to TikTok, Graham wrote: "I know a lot of people have questions, so I just want to clear a few things up respectfully." She continued: "Prior to the trial, I did speak with the prosecution, answered every question I was asked, and made it clear that I was willing to testify and cooperate in any way needed."
Some viewers have argued that Graham is using the Netflix film to bolster her career. She has also shut those claims down. "I also want to address the inclusion of my social media in the documentary," she said. "I never wanted followers, views, or personal attention connected to such a serious situation, and I specifically expressed to the directors that I did not want that aspect included."
Graham went on: "My interview lasted over eight hours, and I had no control over what portions would ultimately make the final cut. At no point was my intention to pick sides, defend anyone, or make light of the seriousness of the case. I was simply answering the questions I was asked based on my own experiences, knowledge, and what I personally witnessed. These are two examples of what I feel is the documentary pushing a narrative without providing my full explanations."
She then shared alleged screenshots of text messages between her boyfriend and producers, seemingly clarifying that Graham didn't want her social media channels identified in the documentary. The Crash is streaming now on Netflix.
