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'This isn't a Netflix Series': Internet slams podcasters and YouTubers for making light of Nicola Bulley's disappearance

45-year-old Nicola Bulley disappeared while walking her dog along St Michael's on Wyre in Lancashire on Friday, January 27

LANCASHIRE, ENGLAND: The Internet has accused makers of true-crime podcasts and Youtube arm sleuths of making a mockery out of the disappearance of Nicola Bulley. Several podcasters with thousands of followers have talked about the disappearance and what might have happened to Nicola, but the tone they used and the way they talked about the case were deemed insensitive. It was as if they had no consideration for Nicola's loved ones.

45-year-old Nicola Bulley disappeared while walking her dog along St. Michael's on Wyre in Lancashire on Friday, January 27, soon after dropping her daughter to school. Her phone was found on a bench, and it was connected to a team meeting that ended after ten minutes. Police suspected that the mother-of-two might have fallen into the river, so now police are desperately searching for her in parts of the river Wyre.

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Delving into the supernatural

In a recent 95-minute episode, Robots for Eyes, a Birmingham-based podcast that talks about conspiracies, crazy characters, UFOs, and serial killers, discussed Nicola’s disappearance.

The discussion took place between three friends. The discussion began with co-presenter Hannah Wood giving a warning, saying, "because this is so current, we have to be a bit more respectful and normal", before they start giggling.

Then, they talked about dismissing the police hypothesis of Nicola falling into the river and paying attention to an abandoned house near the bench where Bulley's phone was found. "Don't just listen to what the police want us to think," Ms. Wood said. During the episode, the trio even sang a light-hearted theme tune, and Wood even forgot Nicola's surname.

Blaming the boyfriend

The Behaviour Panel, a popular YouTube true-crime show, talked about Nicola's partner, Paul Ansell, and his possible involvement in her disappearance in an episode titled, "Should Nicola Bulley’s Boyfriend Really Be Armchair Detectives' Prime Suspect?" In the episode, self-proclaimed human behavior expert Mark Bowden tries to explain Mr. Ansell’s behavior to the audience.

'This isn't a Netflix series'

Many people regarded such behavior from people with a large platform as insensitive. A user tweeted, "Reminder. Sitting at home, retweeting conspiracy theories related to the Nicola Bulley investigation, speculating, pretending to 'experts' or analysing people's body language when you're not qualified to do so is NOT 'helping' the investigation into her disappearance." Another user wrote, "It’s honestly disgusting some of the comments I’m seeing over the Nicola bulley disappearance, Conspiring over whether her partner did it or know who did, This isn’t a Netflix series this is someone’s actual life. Give your heads a wobble seriously! #NicolaBulley". "It’s so bizarre that people on social media are treating nicola bulley’s disappearance like some fun true crime case to speculate about and point fingers. she’s a real human being with a family who are scared and missing her have some compassion", another user added. Meanwhile, a user blamed true-crime shows for people making far-fetched assumptions, saying, "true crime shows have broken people's brains."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.