Smear Campaigns: From Family Court to Advocacy

On the Post Separation Abuse Wheel, smear campaigns sit under the category of isolation. They are deliberate efforts to destroy reputations, compromise support systems, and cut survivors off from the lifelines they need. These campaigns thrive on false narratives and half truths designed to make others question your stability, your intentions, and your worth.

When you are in the thick of family court, smear campaigns often look like character assassination aimed at painting you unfit. The goal is to sway professionals, turn family or friends against you, and leave you standing alone. Many of us have experienced this nightmare, myself included.

Sadly, smear campaigns don’t end when the family court case comes to an end. They evolve, and for many survivors who find their voice and speak out, they escalate.

I wrote recently about this in my blog, When Advocacy Becomes Dangerous: The Growing Threat. In that piece, I described how the very act of using your voice can make you a target. Abusive individuals and the industries that protect them see survivor advocacy as a direct threat. They respond the way they always have: with intimidation, isolation, and smear campaigns.

I know this because I live it.

I am currently being targeted heavily by fathers rights groups and by those who profit from the industry built around discredited “alienation” claims. These are coordinated attacks aimed not only at me, but at trusted advocates who shine a light on collusion, corruption, and family court failures. Those trusted advocates put child safety first and insist the system err on the side of caution when children are at risk.

The attacks have been relentless and unnerving. They have ranged from defaming my work, to attempts at professional sabotage, to deeply personal attacks. In recent weeks, I’ve been called an “infantile cunt,” among other dehumanizing names. These aren’t just insults; they are deliberate attempts to silence me, to rattle me, and to make me question whether speaking out is worth the cost.

Smear campaigns are not only unethical, they can also carry legal consequences. When malice and vengeance are the fuel, those behind these attacks step into dangerous territory from a legal perspective. Defamation, harassment, and incitement are not protected actions. Abusers and profiteers who spread lies may believe they are untouchable, but the very tactics they use to silence others can end up exposing them to accountability.

Smear campaigns are a form of pageantry. They are loud, performative, and designed to distract. They are most often employed by people who are guilty, frightened, and desperate to stay ahead of the truth. When survivors or advocates gain ground, smear campaign appear.

Smear campaigns also exploit anchoring bias, the human tendency to cling to the first story we hear. Abusers know this, which is why they rush to control the narrative, reinvent it when cracks appear, and cling to it no matter how absurd it becomes. These campaigns are not about justice or truth; they are about power and control.

It is a battle between good and evil: between those protecting abusive systems (and people) and those exposing them. In the current political climate, with divisive rhetoric emboldening harassment and hostility, smear campaigns feel even more dangerous.

The message they send is clear: “If you keep speaking, we will destroy you.”

My response: Silence is what sustains abuse.

I will not minimize how painful, exhausting, and frightening these campaigns can be. I also know they are proof of something important: survivor voices matter. Advocacy rattles the foundations of abusive people and systems. The more coordinated the smear, the more desperate those people and systems reveal themselves to be.

Smear campaigns do not just harm the individual being targeted. They send a message to everyone watching. Even if the attack is not directed at you, it plants fear: If this is what happens when someone speaks out, do I really want to risk it?

That is part of the strategy. These campaigns are meant to silence not just the advocate in the crosshairs, but the entire community around them. If enough people retreat, the abuser’s goal is accomplished. It's intimidation by proxy.

Here is the truth: when we name smear campaigns for what they are, we weaken their power. When we continue to show up, amplifying trusted voices, standing with allies, and refusing to hand over our energy, we send a louder message back: you will not win by fear.

Call to action

Do not engage. Smear campaigns rely on amplification. These groups operate within small echo chambers, but they use AI and SEO tactics to make their messages appear louder than they really are. When we comment, argue, or wrestle with pigs, we boost their reach and strengthen their grip. That only hurts our movement.

Instead, put your energy where it matters. Like, comment on, and share content from trusted allies. If you read a blog or a post that resonates with truth and you can safely share it, please do. This is how we build reach and resilience together.

If you have a skill set you’re willing to donate, we need you. Whether it is helping capture screenshots of threats and posts that incite violence, documenting coordinated activity, or offering expertise in public relations, journalism, digital research, or the political realm, every contribution strengthens our collective effort. This is an all hands on deck moment.

There is a lot at stake right now, but there is also power in numbers. It is critical that we link arms, support one another, and keep our focus on child safety and systemic change. Together, anchored in truth, love, and light, we are stronger than any smear campaign.

Smear campaigns exist because abusers fear exposure and accountability.

Their noise is meant to distract, but our persistence exposes the truth. Change has never come from silence…it has always come from those willing to risk being heard. Together, our voices are stronger.