Alicia Ann Lynch: Boston Marathon Bombing Halloween Costume Draws Death Threats; Social Media User Gets Fired - Hoax or Fact?

Alicia Ann Lynch is the latest name to draw death threats on Twitter over a joke, which, according to many social media users, was not funny. Alicia posted photos of herself in a Boston marathon bombing Halloween costume. Is the news some attention grabbing hoax or for real?
An illustration picture shows the log-on icon for the Website Twitter on an iPad in Bordeaux, Southwestern France, in this file photo from January 30, 2013. Twitter Inc will seek to raise $1 billion in the largest Silicon Valley IPO since Facebook Inc's 2012 coming-out party, according to an IPO filing made public October 3, 2013. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau/Files
An illustration picture shows the log-on icon for the Website Twitter on an iPad in Bordeaux, Southwestern France, in this file photo from January 30, 2013. Twitter Inc will seek to raise $1 billion in the largest Silicon Valley IPO since Facebook Inc's 2012 coming-out party, according to an IPO filing made public October 3, 2013. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau/Files

The proliferating marathon bombing Halloween costume (click here to see the photo) shows a smiling young lady in a blue marathon shirt marked 739. Her arms and legs are painted with fake blood, making some people shudder over the memory of the Boston tragedy.   

"Totally saw this costume last night. RT A woman who dressed up as a Boston bombing victim," Twitter user @chachkevitch posted. The RT is understood to be "retweet," for the others to react or simply retweet the photo. Many others have done the same.

The latest developments indicate Alicia's parents and she herself have received death threats over the joke. Screen captures of her Halloween photo are widespread on Twitter and Instagram, and it remains visible even after she has cancelled her social media accounts.

"Plz stop with the death threats towards my parents. They did nothing wrong. I was the one in the wrong and I am paying for being insensitive," Alicia Ann Lynch was quoted as saying in a screen capture report. She has also reportedly tweeted about having lost her job over the incident.

"Girl Who Wore Boston Marathon Bombing Victim Costume Is Lowest Form Of Life Possible," tweets @txsunshinegrl04.

"To the girl that thought it would be a good idea to dress up in a marathon bombing victim costume, I hope you get hit by a train," tweets @ajorge4793.

The controversial Halloween photo may have sparked some very angry remarks, but others have shown they can react without angry words and imply disgust at the same time. Some just have to point out one word to describe the "bombing victim" costume.

"It really disturbs me that people would find a marathon bombing victim halloween costume funny, clever or appropriate," tweets @TiarraNorcross.

"This is disgusting. It's not 'too soon,' its WRONG," tweets @SashaWithLuv.

Social media users often fail to separate the act from the doer, as others believe there should be no separation at all. However, there are others who care more about pointing out what is wrong, instead of giving people a taste of their own (perceived) offence.

The Halloween photo, if not displayed in Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, is linked - permanently - in some users image host accounts.

"How's everyone feel about this girls Marathon Bombing costume? http://tinyurl.com/n7qppvr," tweets @thejustinmac. 

There's a lesson for social media users here. Think twice before you post. This is not the first mistake ever made on Twitter or anywhere online. But there has been a pattern, and some people are not too forgiving. This Twitter user (@TheTwidster) who claims to be a Bostonian, has a message for Alicia Ann Lynch:

"As a Bostonian, I forgive you. I am glad that you have not killed yourself, and I seriously hope you learned your lesson."