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TMZ just published new text-message screenshots attributed to the woman suing several Cornell students that include the phrase “our body our choice” — a line that didn’t show up in earlier reports from the New York Times, ABC, CBS and others. That single development has turned a media feeding frenzy into a questions-and-evidence moment: were major outlets hiding a key detail, or did they responsibly withhold unverified material? Either way, everyone from the Tompkins County District Attorney to Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James needs to answer the same simple demand — show the full record and prove what’s real.
TMZ’s new screenshots and why they matter
TMZ published additional text excerpts that, if authentic, show the person identified in court filings as “Jane Doe” texting two days after the alleged October 2024 incident that “our body our choice.” That wording looks very different from the earlier excerpts mainstream outlets ran — which focused on confusion, clouded memories and an apology from one of the fraternity brothers. The Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten reopened a criminal investigation after the lawsuit and earlier reporting; Governor Kathy Hochul then named New York Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor. Now the question shifts: do the newly published texts change the legal picture, or just the political one?
Did the mainstream media omit the line — and was it wrong to do so?
Let’s be blunt: major outlets initially published other text excerpts and internal records but did not reproduce the “our body our choice” phrase TMZ later published. That sequence is factual. But omission is not proof of a cover-up. Reporters have professional reasons to hold back unverified screenshots, and TMZ has a reputation for publishing raw material fast. Still, selective quoting creates perceptions of bias. If the newly published texts are genuine, why didn’t the Times, ABC or CBS show the whole exchange? If the texts are not authentic, why publish them at all without clear verification? The public deserves both candor and evidence, not editorial gamesmanship.
Legal weight of post-event messages — proceed with care
Legal experts disagree about how much one or two texts matter. Some say messages sent soon after an event can be powerful evidence. Others point out trauma, intoxication and incomplete memory can make post-event statements misleading. The smart, conservative position is obvious: don’t decide a criminal case in the court of headlines. Prosecutors and defense lawyers should examine the full set of records — police transcripts, Title IX reports, phone metadata and any other corroborating evidence — before making claims about guilt or innocence. If those texts are authenticated, they belong in the record; if not, they belong in a file marked “unproven.”
Politics, power and the special-prosecutor spotlight
The governor’s decision to appoint the Attorney General as special prosecutor only raised the political temperature. It’s possible the state needed independent oversight. It’s also possible the move was a public-relations bandaid in a highly charged environment. Either way, Letitia James’ office now controls the narrative and the evidence review. That makes transparency even more important. Defendants’ lawyers already are pushing for recusal and demanding discovery. The public should demand the same: show the screenshots, produce the metadata, and make the timeline plain for everyone to inspect — not just the political animals in Albany.
Bottom line: TMZ’s publication of the “our body our choice” language is the recent development that changes the conversation from “what happened” to “what can be shown.” Major outlets, prosecutors and the state need to stop posturing and start producing evidence. If the texts are real, prosecutors must explain their significance. If they aren’t, the media that ran them should eat a little crow and the rest of us should remember that due process matters more than a viral headline. Fairness and transparency aren’t partisan — they’re just what justice is supposed to look like.
