It all began with a tweet by Janie Johnson that said:
My friends just returned from London. Shocked. Hadn't been in 20 years. Said London is gone — all Islamic. https://t.co/YFFKkt2wli
— Janie Johnson (@jjauthor) December 5, 2016
The tweet, which has since gone viral online, linked to a news story about Muslim integration in Britain, in which a newly published review warned that many Muslims do not identify themselves as being British.
And it didn't stop there. Subsequent tweets claimed that British people had "let their culture be erased."
Agree. They were adamant- why Britain just let their culture be erased! https://t.co/Dyo0mD5jwv
— Janie Johnson (@jjauthor) December 5, 2016
When asked to justify her "London is gone" tweet, Mrs. Johnson said her friends were frequent travelers and "are informed people."
Crazy sad. They are informed people. They were trying to impress upon us how horrible it is. They travel a lot. https://t.co/Z5uPZ3EAJg
— Janie Johnson (@jjauthor) December 5, 2016
But while some of the tweets supported her negative rhetoric:
@EmmaKennedy @jjauthor London was full of Muslims when I lived there between 2000 and 2004. Its doubled since then apparently.
— Trumpskins (@Trumpskins2016) December 5, 2016
Londoners were quick to correct the US author.
@jjauthor I have lived in London for 58 years and this is arrant nonsense. Offensive arrant nonsense, too.
— George Morley (@georgeisediting) December 5, 2016
@jjauthor @1alice4trump @Juginut my god. Is this woman for real lol. Are all Americans as stupid as this. London is same its ever been.
— N8 Bray (@N8_Bray) December 5, 2016
@jjauthor @kateandbryanmom oh no it's gone all Islamic…oh wait no it hasn't. It's just London as it always is. pic.twitter.com/Na8qEdLS9e
— Nicholas Mazzei (@Tsar_Nicholas) December 5, 2016
@jjauthor adamant but wrong. Our culture is one of integration and immigration virtually all of us are immigrants — just as you are.
— stulet 🏛 (@chewystuey) December 5, 2016