Mother of Jacksonville Teen Whose Murder Fueled Viral TikTok Challenge Calls It ‘Ignorant’

The murder of a Jacksonville teenager has sparked a nationwide TikTok challenge, "Where's Corbin?," which is named after the late 18-year-old, Corbin Johnson.

Murder of Jacksonville teen sparks viral TikTok trend
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Photo by Rasit Aydogan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Murder of Jacksonville teen sparks viral TikTok trend

The murder of a Jacksonville teenager has ignited a nationwide TikTok challenge called “Where’s Corbin?”

The trend is named after Corbin Johnson, an 18-year-old who was reported missing in 2018 before his remains were discovered in a wooded area of Northwest Jacksonville in July 2019. Although the case remains unsolved, police believe the killing stemmed from a gang rivalry between Jacksonville gangs ATK and KTA, the latter of which is allegedly linked to local rapper Julio Foolio, whose 2020 song “Beatbox Remix/Bibby Flow” has sparked the new trend. 

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In the song, which has earned 10 million views on YouTube, Foolio raps, “Corbin got kidnapped they found his bones he was rotten (where’s Corbin?).” According to News4Jax, the hashtag “#Where’sCorbin” has already clocked 3.9 million views on TikTok. 

Johnson’s mother, Melissa Jackson, spoke with News4Jax about the viral challenge. “I think that it’s just ignorant. I really do think that it’s ignorant,” she said. “For the most part, it is disgusting a lot of people. A lot of people, if you do have some people that think it’s funny and laughing about it. But for the most part, it really is touching a lot of people’s hearts.

“To answer the question where’s Corbin, Corbin is right here. He’s in my heart,” Jackson added. “If you’re looking for Corbin, that’s where Corbin is, he’s right here. I have him with me every day.”

Meanwhile, during an Instagram Live this week, Foolio denied having any knowledge about Corbin’s death. “Talking bout where is Corbin, I don’t know where Corbin is. That’s all I’ve got to say, “ he said.

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