'Off Campus' issues harassment warning after Mika Abdalla and Jake Short split
A resurfaced podcast clip of Jake Short joking about Abdalla sparked a wave of online harassment
- Off Campus makers warned that accounts engaging in targeted harassment will be blocked.
- A resurfaced clip of Jake Short making a joke about Abdalla went viral after their split.
- Abdalla and Short said the clip did not reflect their five-year loving and respectful relationship.
The production team behind Prime Video's breakout series Off Campus has issued a public statement condemning the wave of targeted harassment directed at lead star Mika Abdalla following her split from fiancé Jake Short.
The show has become an instant hit since its release, but the excitement surrounding it took a damaging turn after news of Abdalla and Short's breakup triggered a flood of online trolling aimed at the couple.
Makers warn fans: harassment will not be tolerated
The Off Campus team responded directly, issuing a statement that set out clear consequences for fans who cross the line. "The off-campus community is built on a shared love of storytelling — and on respect for the real people who bring it to life," the statement read.
"We ask that everyone in this space extend that respect to our cast and the people in their lives." The message added: "Accounts that engage in targeted harassment will be removed from following our accounts."
Resurfaced clip fuels the backlash
Much of the harassment stemmed from an old podcast clip of Short that resurfaced on social media shortly after the couple announced their separation. In the video, Short made a joking reference to Abdalla using a derogatory term, which rapidly went viral and intensified the online pile-on.
Couple push back on 'harmful assumptions'
Abdalla and Short moved quickly to address the clip jointly, rejecting the narrative that had taken hold online. "People making harmful and inaccurate assumptions about our dynamic," the couple wrote in a joint statement.
"We were in a loving, respectful relationship for five years, and it's hurtful to see playful moments dissected in a way that does not reflect the respect and love we had and still have for each other," they concluded.