EDITORIAL: A Brief Word on the Exploitation of Annaliese Michelle

I’m taking a break from my research into possession to write about something that’s been bothering me for awhile now. As most Forteans and/or horror fans know, the film The Exorcism of Emily Rose was based on the real-life case of the exorcisms suffered by a young German woman in the 1970’s named Annaliese Michelle.

I won’t go deeply into the case here, because you can literally find her story just about everywhere. In a nutshell, she was a religious girl who may or may not have been possessed. A series of exorcisms was performed on her for several months, culminating in her death and the conviction of her parents and the exorcists for negligent homicide.

Hers was a truly tragic case, and it is worthy of study.

HOWEVER–As we all know, list videos are popular on YouTube, and many of them delve into the paranormal. Nearly every time I watch one that has anything to do with possession, the case of Anneliese Michelle is right there in the number one or number two spot. Is it because her case is so compelling? That’s the explanation given. But in my opinion, this poor young woman’s case is at the top because there was a ton of photographic evidence that was used at her trial, and is now in the public domain. These photos are, at the very least, disturbing. To see a healthy young woman transform into a malnourished, raving skeleton is horrific.

YouTubers use her case because of the photos. They’re used on many channels, repeatedly, again and again. This poor girl suffered in life, not least from epilepsy and mental illness, and these channels (which are legion) post those pictures almost gleefully, recounting her travails in somber tones. It’s appalling.

I get it. These channels survive on their views and subscriptions. While some channels, such as The Paranormal Scholar, treat Ms. Michelle with the respect and dignity that all victims deserve, most simply display those photos, leaving them lingering on the screen as the host narrates the details. It’s exploitative. These channels aren’t making their money from ‘getting her story out there’. Her story has been widely known for years and years. It’s already out there. No, these channels are using images of a suffering young woman to drive traffic to their videos. It’s wrong, and it needs to stop.

In no way am I saying that her case shouldn’t be studied. In no way am I saying that these channels don’t have the right to use her tale as an example. What I am saying is that these channels need to stop and think about the dignity of the victim, of the friends and relatives. Put up some spooky stills from a movie. Use drawings or paintings to illustrate these narratives. But stop exploiting Ms. Michelle’s likeness for financial gain.

Let Annaliese Michelle, and those like her, rest in peace. It’s the least we can do.