Who is Kelsey Darragh? Influencer recalls finding almost 30 police officers outside her home in the middle of the night after being swatted

Modified Apr 25, 2025 07:39 GMT

Kelsey Darragh is a content creator and former BuzzFeed personality who gained attention after recounting a traumatic swatting incident on her podcast, Confidently Insecure. On April 21, 2024, Darragh awoke to find nearly 30 armed police officers outside her California home following a false emergency call claiming a violent hostage situation.

The incident, which she described as her “worst nightmare,” left her handcuffed and traumatized, compounded by a prior home invasion that had already impacted her sense of safety. Swatting involves falsely reporting severe crimes like shootings or hostage situations to dispatch law enforcement to a target’s address.

High-profile figures like Tom Cruise, Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, etc. have faced similar incidents. However, Darragh’s experience highlights the risks for digital creators.

She shared details in a TikTok teaser and a YouTube podcast episode, explaining how the event unfolded: Hearing her partner yell at 5 a.m., she rushed downstairs naked, armed with a firearm, only to find officers surrounding her home.

Kelsey Darragh, now a licensed gun owner, sleeps with her weapon nearby due to lingering PTSD from the swatting and a previous break-in. During the incident, she and her partner were detained outside while police searched their home. Officers later confirmed the call, reporting a fake murder and threat to children, originated from an untraceable Google Voice number.

Despite no charges, Darragh moved residences and upgraded security, though the psychological effects persist. Thus, after a year of the swatting incident, she finally decided to share it with the public by uploading a YouTube video about it.

Kelsey Darragh’s swatting incident: Timeline and aftermath

Kelsey Darragh recalled that her ordeal began around 5 a.m. when her partner’s shouts woke her. Assuming danger, she took her firearm and descended naked to investigate, only to find dozens of officers with guns drawn. She saw that her partner was already handcuffed outside. They had accused him of a fabricated violent crime.

Police instructed her to dress and exit the home, where she was restrained against a wall despite no evidence of wrongdoing. Authorities later explained a caller had falsely claimed a man at their address killed his wife and threatened children.

Darragh criticized the officers’ aggressive handling, noting their visible nervousness and lack of communication.

After 90 minutes, police released them but provided no recourse to identify the prank caller, she said in the podcast. The incident’s fallout led Darragh to relocate and enhance home security.

She delayed sharing the story for a year on police advice, fearing it would encourage repeat attacks. However, she eventually detailed the trauma on her YouTube podcast, emphasizing how close the situation came to tragedy:

“Had we not complied correctly… so many things could have gone wrong.”

Kelsey Darragh’s experience underscores the vulnerabilities faced by public figures in the digital age. While swatting remains difficult to prosecute, its psychological toll, sleeplessness, hypervigilance, and mistrust of authorities linger long after the sirens fade.

For creators like Kelsey Darragh, balancing visibility with safety continues to be an ongoing challenge.

About the author

Covering all about Korean entertainment, food trends and pop culture at Sportskeeda, Anila Ghufran is an established writer with over 7+ years of experience in the field. Holding a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, she discovered her passion for content creation during her studies.

Anila’s writing journey began at Elite Technologies, where she worked on a diverse range of content, including entertainment articles for IIFA, academic pieces for Unacademy, news contributions for the Economic Times, and medical content for Apollo Hospitals. She has also collaborated with brands like IKEA, and Tanishq, and served as an Editor at Pepper Content.

Specializing in K-Pop and K-Drama, Anila leverages her appreciation for these cultures to resonate with readers worldwide. Her admiration for artists like BTS, Agust D, and SEVENTEEN inspires her to bring similar authenticity into her own work. She believes reporting on K-culture feels like being part of a global fan club where one can cross borders without a passport.

Anila is committed to presenting meticulously researched topics by utilizing reliable sources and maintaining an objective stance through her work. When not crafting her next article, she can be found doodling, immersed in K-drama marathons, or doting on her beloved cats.

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