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Rachel Cassidy - an OU sophomore - had been linked to an alleged sexual assault that occurred on a public street in Athens, Ohio and drew the attention of many onlookers who uploaded images of the act to various social media sites. After her name became associated with the incident, Cassidy deactivated all of her social media accounts, didn't leave her house, and was excused from her classes by the university, The Post reported.
OU administrators confirmed to The Post that Cassidy is not the alleged victim.
Cassidy may have been originally identified due to a purported physical resemblance to the female pictured in the viral images. "It's critically important for people to know that the attacks generated against my daughter are simply because she has long curly hair and may look a little bit like the victim," Cassidy's father told the Post.
@Anon_Central - a popular Twitter account with over 170,000 followers - sent out several messages linking Cassidy to the alleged assault:
D0x on Rachel Cassidy, false rape accuser, liar, from Ohio University - http://t.co/tYjIG9KRsB
- Internet (@Anon_Central) October 18, 2013
Many other Twitter users also publicly condemned Cassidy:
Rachel Cassidy of Ohio University is falsely claiming "rape" to save her ass from expulsion. Watch the video here: http://t.co/QxLX6CC3fO
- Jessica K. (@slutsherface) October 19, 2013
Rachel Cassidy come on down, because you are about to get it for lying about rape and ruining someone's life! Let's show her what she's won!
- S.H.G._Nackt (@SHG_Nackt) October 19, 2013