'Meatball' Pleads Guilty In Philly Looting Case, Gets Probation

PHILADELPHIA — A notorious local social media personality has pleaded guilty to rioting and criminal use of a communication facility in connection with looting that occurred in Philadelphia back in September 2023.

Dayjia Blackwell, 22, of Philadelphia, known as "Meatball" online, entered the pleas Thursday in a Philadelphia court.

As part of her plea, Blackwell will serve five years of probation for each charge, must commit 150 hours of community service, and pay a $10,000 fine, court records show.

The charges stem from a Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023 incident. She was initially charged with burglary, rioting, criminal use of a communications facility, criminal trespassing, receiving stolen property, and more in connection with the looting.

Blackwell, who at the time had about 185,000 followers on Instagram, was livestreaming the looting events, including her own arrest.

Authorities said she went to at least seven locations throughout the rioting and posted "What we doing tonight behind this injustice tap in?" in reference to all charges being dismissed against former Philadelphia Police officer Mark Dial.

The attention she garnered from the incident apparently skyrocketed her follower, which stands at 965,000 on Instagram.

She was one of 52 people arrested in connection with the looting.

Of those 52, just three were juveniles, police said.

The "criminal opportunists," as police called them, hit the Apple Store, Lululemon, and the Foot Locker in Center City.

Additionally, 18 Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores were looted, forcing the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to close all of its Philadelphia stores temporarily.

Reports state looters also hit pharmacies and other businesses.