How Zyahna Bryant, a BLM Activist Who Lied About Morgan Bettinger, Became a Dove Ambassador

Renu VirdiMarch 22, 2023

Dove, the personal care brand owned by Unilever, is facing a backlash and a boycott over its decision to work with Zyahna Bryant, a Black Lives Matter activist who was accused of falsely accusing a white student of making racist remarks at a protest in 2020.

Who is Zyahna Bryant?

Zyahna Bryant is a 23-year-old student activist and community organizer studying at the University of Virginia. She is known for her work on racial justice issues in Charlottesville, Virginia, where she founded the Black Student Union at her high school and wrote a petition to the city council calling for the removal of Confederate statues in 2016. She is also the author of a book of poetry and essays titled “Reclaim”, published in 2019.

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What did she do to Morgan Bettinger?

In July 2020, Bryant claimed that she overheard Morgan Bettinger, a fellow UVA student, saying that Black Lives Matter protesters would make “good speed bumps” as she was driving home from work and encountered a roadblock by a public works truck and a group of demonstrators. Zyahna Bryant tweeted about the incident, sparking outrage and calls for Bettinger’s expulsion from the university.

However, Bettinger denied making any such comment and said that she only joked with the truck driver that it was a good thing he was there to prevent the protesters from becoming speed bumps. She also said that she never spoke to or interacted with any of the protesters and that Zyahna may have misheard or misinterpreted her conversation with the driver.

A university investigation later found insufficient evidence to support Bryant’s claim, and even concluded that it was more likely than not that Bryant never heard Bettinger make any remark about speed bumps. Despite this, the university upheld the results of an earlier student-run tribunal that found Bettinger guilty of threatening the health or safety of UVA students and imposed several sanctions on her, including community service, mandatory meetings with a professor, an apology letter to Bryant, and expulsion in abeyance (meaning that she could continue her studies but would be expelled if she committed a similar offense again).

Bettinger has filed a lawsuit against the university, alleging that it violated her First Amendment rights and due process rights, and that it tampered with the investigations to ensure her punishment. She also claims that she has suffered emotional distress, reputational damage, and academic setbacks as a result of the ordeal.

How did Dove get involved?

In August 2021, Zyahna Bryant announced on her Instagram account that she was partnering with Dove to promote “fat liberation”, a campaign to end the stigma and discrimination against overweight people. She said that she was supporting the work of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance and Flare for Justice in their Campaign for Size Freedom. She also said that she believed in centering the voices and experiences of the most marginalized people and communities at all times.

Her announcement received some positive comments from her followers but also sparked criticism and boycott calls from many people who were aware of her role in Bettinger’s case. Some accused her of being a bully, a liar, and a racist who ruined an innocent person’s life over a false accusation. Some also questioned Dove’s decision to work with someone who had such a controversial history and reputation.

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What has been the reaction?

The backlash against Dove and Bryant has intensified after several media outlets reported on their partnership, including the New York Post, the Daily Mail, and even Elon Musk, who commented on X (formerly Twitter) that Dove’s decision was “messed up”. The hashtag #BoycottDove has been trending on X, with many users expressing their anger and disappointment with the brand. Some have also posted pictures of them throwing away or destroying their Dove products.

Dove has not issued any official statement or response to the controversy as of September 16, 2023. However, some have defended Dove’s choice to work with Bryant, arguing that she is a young activist who made a mistake and deserves forgiveness. Some have also praised Dove for its efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in its campaigns.

Early Life and Education

Zyahna was born on July 6, 2000, in Charlottesville, Virginia to Zyahna Bryant Sr. and Sabrina Bryant. She has two younger siblings, Zyon and Zariah. She attended Charlottesville High School, where she founded the Black Student Union and served as its chair for three years.

Bryant graduated from high school in 2018 and received several awards and recognitions for her academic excellence and activism.

Bryant is currently a senior at the University of Virginia, where she is majoring in political and social thought. She is also a member of President Jim Ryan’s Council on UVA-Community Partnerships and a co-chair of the UVA Black Student Alliance.

Name	Zyahna Bryant
Date of Birth	July 6, 2000
Place of Birth	Charlottesville, Virginia
Nationality	American
Ethnicity	African American
Parents	Zyahna Bryant Sr. and Sabrina Bryant
Siblings	Zyon and Zariah
Education	Charlottesville High School (2014-2018), University of Virginia (2018-present)
Major	Political and Social Thought
Occupation	Student, Activist, Community Organizer, Writer, Speaker
Controversies	Being accused of falsely reporting a white student for making a racist remark in 2018, Facing backlash and boycott calls for partnering with Dove in 2023
Relationship Status	Single
Net Worth	$100,000 (estimated)
Height	5 feet 6 inches (168 cm)
Weight	220 lbs (100 kg)
Hair Color	Black
Eye Color	Brown
Dress Size	18 (US)

Activism and Advocacy

Bryant’s activism began when she was 12 years old when she organized a rally for justice for Trayvon Martin and other unarmed black lives lost to police violence. In 2016, she wrote a petition to the Charlottesville City Council calling for the removal of the statue of Robert E. Lee from Emancipation Park (formerly known as Lee Park) and the renaming of the park to honor the city’s enslaved population. Her petition sparked a heated debate and eventually led to the city council voting to remove the statue in 2017.

However, Zyahna Bryant’s petition also attracted backlash from white supremacists and neo-Nazis who opposed the removal of the statue. In August 2017, Charlottesville became the site of a violent rally called “Unite the Right”, where hundreds of far-right extremists clashed with counter-protesters over the fate of the statue. The rally resulted in one death and dozens of injuries when a car plowed into a crowd of anti-racist demonstrators.

She has spoken at various events and platforms such as TEDxCharlottesville, Women’s March on Washington, National School Walkout Day and Teen Vogue Summit. She has also written articles and essays for publications such as The New York Times, Teen Vogue, The Guardian, and The Root.

In 2019, Bryant published her first book, a collection of poetry and essays titled “Reclaim” which reflects on her personal journey as an activist and a young black woman. In November 2019, she was named as one of Teen Vogue’s 21 Under 21 Young People Changing the World.

Personal Life

Bryant is currently single and not dating anyone. She has not revealed any information about her past or present relationships. She is focused on her studies and her activism. She lives in Charlottesville with her family and enjoys reading, writing, traveling, and spending time with her friends.

Net Worth

Zyahna Bryant’s net worth is estimated to be around $100,000 as of 2023. She earns money from her book sales, speaking engagements, writing assignments, and partnerships with brands such as Dove. She also receives scholarships and grants for her education and activism.