The girlfriend of Karmelo Anthony, the teenager convicted of the 2025 murder of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf in Frisco, is drawing backlash for launching a fan page for him.
Valeria Perez, Karmelo Anthony’s girlfriend, is drawing criticism for launching his “Official Fan Page” @standwithkarmeloanthony on Instagram.
In a now-deleted post, she wrote: “Hold your head high, my sweet boy. You’re not alone we’re fighting for you, always. I love you more than words.” In another post on X, she wrote: “Please go follow and support!!”
Karmelo Anthony’s girlfriend has reportedly started a fan page for her “sweet boy” after he was sentenced to 35 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf. pic.twitter.com/pjipSc3LGz
— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) June 11, 2026
Anthony, 19, was convicted of fatally stabbing Metcalf at a track meet on April 2, 2025. He was sentenced to 35 years in prison on Monday. He was transferred to the Wallace Pack Unit Prison in Grimes County, Texas on Wednesday.
The prison is named after a warden killed in the line of duty. It is located in a rural area about 200 miles south of Dallas. He will remain in isolation for his protection.
Anthony’s parents Karmelo Anthony Sr. and Kala Hayes vowed to “keep fighting” in an exclusive interview with Mimi Brown TV.
The parents of Karmelo Anthony speak with me first following the guilty verdict and 35-year sentence.
In an emotional conversation, they reflect on the trial, what they believe could have been done differently, and the impact this has had on their family.
I’ll share more from… pic.twitter.com/9GhY2oftCd
— Mimi Brown (@mimibrowntv) June 10, 2026
Bernice King, daughter of Rev. Martin Luther King, weighed in on Anthony’s conviction by an all-white jury.
“Karmelo Anthony, a Black teenager, has been sentenced to 35 years in prison after being convicted by a jury with no Black jurors. Whatever one believes about the verdict itself, we cannot ignore the larger truth that many Americans are wrestling with: justice is still being administered through a system with a long history of racial disparity in sentencing and punishment,” she tweeted on Thursday.
“This requires more than reaction. It requires moral honesty about who is deemed dangerous, whose pain is centered, and how differently accountability has often been applied in America. If we want justice worthy of its name, it cannot be shaped by race.”
Karmelo Anthony, a Black teenager, has been sentenced to 35 years in prison after being convicted by a jury with no Black jurors. Whatever one believes about the verdict itself, we cannot ignore the larger truth that many Americans are wrestling with: justice is still being… pic.twitter.com/1vLUN2EtE2
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) June 11, 2026
Anthony’s GiveSendGo fundraising page was deactivated following his conviction.
A rep for GiveSendGo told TMZ that the page, which was created by his mom, was allowed to remain up because everyone is considered innocent until proven guilty.
Part of the $633,000 raised by donors was disbursed over the past year to pay Anthony’s legal fees and his family’s living expenses. The family will keep the rest of the money to pay for his appeal. “Our prayer is for Austin Metcalf’s family, for all those affected, and for justice, mercy, and peace in our community,” the GiveSendGo rep told TMZ.