Casey Anthony — the Florida woman notoriously acquitted of murdering her 2-year-old daughter Caylee in 2011 — is once again at the center of controversy, this time for capitalizing on her infamy with a new online venture.

Dubbed “America’s most hated mom,” Anthony is now raking in money through a subscription-based Substack blog, and critics are sounding off.

The outrage comes from the perception that Anthony is exploiting a tragedy that continues to haunt the public.

Though legally cleared of the murder charges, Anthony remains one of the most vilified figures in modern American media.

Her recent reemergence has left many stunned, as she now presents herself as a writer, advocate, and content creator — one with a growing online following and a monetized platform.

hey guys. casey anthony is on substack now. pic.twitter.com/3PEI8L5xmx

— kathleen (@holdenfordfocus) March 2, 2025

Anthony’s “Real Life” Blog

Anthony, now 39, has launched a subscription blog on Substack, a platform that allows users to publish exclusive content and charge subscribers for access. On her page, Anthony introduces herself as more than just a notorious name.

“It has been more than 16 years since my name became a household one,” she writes in her Substack bio.

“Everyone seems to have an opinion — about me, and about my life. I am an advocate, a researcher. These are my words, this is my REAL life.”

Subscription prices for her content start at $10 per month and go up to $250 per year, which grants premium access, including the possibility of direct interaction with Anthony herself.

At the time of publication, Anthony reportedly has over 5,000 subscribers — meaning she could be earning tens of thousands of dollars annually through this new venture alone.

For many, it’s a deeply disturbing development. To them, this is not just a story about someone moving on with their life — it’s about someone accused of the unthinkable profiting off public curiosity, morbid fascination, and controversy.

Well, one month on, according to Substack she has “hundreds of paid subscribers”, the lowest anyone can pay is $10 for a month. Taking the lowest possible definition of “hundreds” that means 100 people have paid her at least $10, she’s made at least $1000 in a month from that…… pic.twitter.com/NPxhb5T8JO

— Never A Truer Word (@truer_word) April 6, 2025

Expert Analysis: “A New Type of Infamy Economy”

Ari Lightman, a professor of digital media and marketing at Carnegie Mellon University, weighed in on Anthony’s controversial return to the spotlight.

According to Lightman, platforms like Substack and TikTok provide fertile ground for people with infamous pasts to rebrand and monetize their personas.

“It’s an opportunity for this person and this personality to do a refresh within the U.S. public and reinvent herself,” Lightman told Fox News.

Lightman noted that some of Anthony’s followers may be subscribing not out of support, but out of disdain — a phenomenon known as “hate-clicking.”

“People enjoy hate-clicking on things or hate-reading and are fascinated with either the mystery or what they’re up to now,” he explained. Regardless of their motivations, the result is the same: money flows into Anthony’s pocket.

This trend, Lightman warned, could set a troubling precedent.

“The question I would have is: Are we going to see this happen more and more often? This provides an example of people cashing in on their fandom,” he said.

“Does that imply that people will deliberately try to create fame — by any means necessary — whether positive, which is much harder to achieve, or through scandal, which is much easier?”

TikTok and the Attempt at Reinvention

In addition to her blog, Anthony has also launched a TikTok account, further extending her reach into the digital sphere. Since joining the platform on March 1, she has amassed over 85,000 followers.

“This is my first of probably many recordings on a series I am starting,” Anthony said in her debut video.

“I am a legal advocate, I am a researcher. I have been in the legal field since 2011, and in this capacity, I feel that it’s necessary if I’m going to continue to operate appropriately as a legal advocate that I start to advocate for myself and also advocate for my daughter.”

She added: “This is not about [my parents]. This is not in response to anything that they have said or done. . . . The whole point of this is for me to begin to reintroduce myself.”

To her critics, however, this reintroduction feels less like advocacy and more like exploitation. For those who still believe Anthony should be behind bars, the idea of her making money — and potentially reshaping her public image — is a bitter pill to swallow.

Casey Anthony claims she is a legal advocate and needs to start advocating for herself and daughter. She murdered Caylee and drove around with her body in the trunk for weeks. Then dumped her in the woods. Everyone knows it. There is nothing else to say.pic.twitter.com/g9OgCevOlI

— Colette Harrington (@sweetcarolinatv) March 3, 2025

A Nation Still Unsettled

Despite the passage of time and the court’s verdict, public opinion on Casey Anthony has barely budged. Her daughter Caylee’s death remains a painful memory for many Americans, and Anthony’s reemergence on monetized digital platforms only reignites that anger.

Though she maintains her innocence and has attempted to pivot into legal advocacy, the underlying truth for many is simple: no amount of rebranding will erase the past, especially when it’s being packaged for profit.

In the end, Casey Anthony’s new side hustle isn’t just a story about a woman starting over — it’s a reminder of the fine line between freedom and accountability, between fame and infamy, and the unsettling reality of a media landscape where controversy pays.