What Happened to the "Roman Empire was a Fiction" TikTokker?

                     @momllennial_                     

 A US woman apparently in her late 30s to early 40s known as @momllennial_ on TikTok, sparked significant controversy around November 2021 with a series of videos claiming that Ancient Rome did not exist and was a fabrication, notably attributing it to the Spanish Inquisition. This person, whose first name appears to have been 'Donna' She argued that there were no primary Roman documents, that Roman culture was a mix of other civilizations (like Greek, Egyptian, and Turkish), and that iconic structures like the Colosseum or Hadrian’s Wall lacked definitive Roman origins. For instance, she falsely claimed Hadrian’s Wall was a road, not a wall, and that a Latin poem by Gaius Cornelius Gallus was written in Greek.

Her claims were widely debunked by historians, classicists, and other TikTok creators. Maxwell T. Paule, a professor of ancient studies, refuted her assertion about the Gallus poem, confirming it was in Latin. Others, like @stillnotallhere , countered her Hadrian’s Wall claims by citing firsthand visits and archaeological evidence. The consensus, supported by sources like Smithsonian Magazine, affirmed Roman construction of the wall under Emperor Hadrian, backed by numerous primary sources. Her videos, some garnering hundreds of thousands of views, were seen as provocative, with many labeling her a conspiracy theorist or troll. By late 2022, under the handle @momllennial_returns, she reposted her theories on Twitter (now X), reigniting mockery and debate.

Critics noted her arguments lacked evidence, ignored Latin manuscripts, and misrepresented archaeology. Some responses turned personal, including anti-Semitic harassment, though Donna, identifying as Jewish, pinned her theories on Catholic Church conspiracies. Her feud with Aidan Mattis escalated, with mutual accusations of defamation tied to his conservative affiliations. While her content drew attention, most reactions were skeptical, with comments calling her claims absurd or humorous. There’s no evidence her theories gained traction beyond being shared for their outlandishness. She also made other controversial claims, like suggesting Alexander the Great was a woman or that “Jesus Christ” translated to “clitoris healer.” No record exists of her responding to requests for comment from outlets like Insider.

In her TikTok bio and LinkedIn, Donna claimed a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and history from Western Kentucky University (2005). Some, like TikToker Aidan Mattis, questioned her credentials, finding no record of her graduation. Her blog, Fog of History [broken link], later clarified she double-majored in anthropology (specializing in archaeology) and history but dropped out after her junior year. As a former entertainment journalist, Donna lacked formal archaeological or historical training beyond her incomplete studies. Her claims reflect a layperson’s engagement with anthropology, marked by cherry-picking and misinterpretation, rather than rigorous application of the discipline’s methods. The academic community viewed her as a “conspiracy theorist” or “troll,” with no credible support for her theories. Her ideas echo earlier fringe theories, like those of Jean Hardouin, who claimed medieval monks fabricated classical texts. However, by attempting to frame the issue in 'anthropological' terms (ie by emphasizing material culture and dating) she attempted to ground her conspiracy in a semblance of 'scientific scepticism' and 'free enquiry'. This ultimately failed to convince anyone.

The public reaction was variable. Most comments on her TikTok videos were overwhelmingly sceptical, with users calling her claims “utterly incorrect” or sharing academic citations. Her 2022 Twitter reposts (@momllennial_returns) garnered 75,000 views but were widely mocked, with jokes comparing her to Seinfeld characters. Some backlash included anti-Semitic harassment, despite her declared Jewish identity, complicating the discourse. There is no evidence her theories gained significant traction beyond viral attention for their absurdity and rejection of evidence, mostly it seems they were spread as entertainment, not belief.

On checking, her original TikTok account is no longer active, her Twitter profile seems to have been deleted, a new TikTok account that seems tyo be hers is pretty innactive (and only contains some rather incomprehensible 'Jewish/Zionism' related material). The referenced URL (fogofhistorycom.wordpress.com) to her blog is non-functional, and no alternative link appears in the sources or through web searches. She never wrote up mand published her theories as a book or even academic paper. It seems the lady got tired with seeking attention through provocative online behaviour in various outfits and hairdos.