The defamation lawsuit filed against backstage actress Ava Grace May in Baltimore County Circuit Court represents more than just another internet personality facing legal consequences for online behavior. It’s a cautionary tale about the fundamental disconnect between social media culture and legal accountability—and a reminder that “spreading good weirdness around the world” doesn’t exempt you from the laws of defamation.
Let me state my biases upfront: I don’t follow either Levi Trumbull’s YouTube channel or Ava Grace May’s various social media platforms. I have no personal stake in this dispute. But as someone who has observed the evolution of online discourse and its collision with established legal frameworks, this case demands scrutiny not for its salacious details but for what it reveals about personal responsibility in the digital age.
The facts, as laid out in court documents filed December 8, 2025, paint a troubling picture of Ava May’s escalating poor judgment. In August 2024, May responded to a legitimate casting call on Backstage.com for a YouTube co-hosting opportunity. She was selected, expressed enthusiasm, and arranged to meet Trumbull to finalize the arrangement. At that August 21 meeting, she was provided with standard industry documentation and $100 as an advance gesture. She requested time to review the paperwork—a reasonable request—and promised to either sign and proceed or return everything if she decided against participation.
She did neither. According to the complaint, May simply kept the documents and money, ignoring requests for their return. This is where the first significant judgment failure occurred. We’re not talking about complex legal maneuvering here—we’re talking about basic integrity. If you’re not proceeding with an opportunity, return what doesn’t belong to you. It’s kindergarten-level ethics.
Trumbull moved on, replacing May with another candidate who actually fulfilled the professional obligations. The matter could have ended there—a minor dispute resolved through small claims court or simply written off as a business loss. But May chose a different path.
In September 2025, May released “Astral Stalking,” a song with lyrics depicting someone pursuing her through mystical means. The complaint characterizes this as May’s artistic response to their failed business relationship. Fine. Artists process experiences through their work. That’s not defamation—that’s expression.
Trumbull, recognizing the song referenced their situation, sent May an email on September 13, 2025, explicitly titled “The High Road.” The email as documented in court filings is measured, thoughtful, and offers multiple pathways to resolution. He acknowledges the situation may have affected May, expresses understanding, and gives her 48 hours to engage in dialogue. He’s literally offering her an off-ramp.
May didn’t take it. She didn’t respond at all.
When Trumbull then published a YouTube video on September 15 addressing the situation and criticizing May’s public content using terms like “weird” and “cringy”—terms May herself employs in her own branding—she had a choice. She could have ignored it. She could have responded with her own content. She could have finally replied to his earlier outreach.
Instead, she posted to Instagram that evening: “THIS GUY HAS BEEN STALKING ME” and “And then harassed me and my family for months.”
Here’s where we need to be crystal clear about what happened. May didn’t say “I feel harassed” or “his behavior makes me uncomfortable.” She accused Trumbull of specific criminal conduct. Stalking in Maryland is a misdemeanor punishable by up to five years imprisonment. Harassment likewise carries criminal penalties. These aren’t subjective expressions of emotion—they’re factual claims about illegal behavior.
And they’re demonstrably false according to the court record. The complaint meticulously details every interaction between the parties: one business meeting, one small claims case, one email, one YouTube video. None of this satisfies Maryland’s statutory definitions of stalking or harassment, which require courses of conduct intended to cause distress or fear, often after warnings to stop.
Most damningly, May herself undermined her own accusations within twelve hours. On the morning of September 16, she posted to Instagram that Trumbull’s video “did not hurt” her, was “f*cking hilariously bad,” and “gives me recognition.” You cannot simultaneously claim someone is criminally stalking you in a manner causing genuine fear while admitting their conduct didn’t hurt you and actually benefited your public profile. These positions are irreconcilable.
This contradiction matters enormously. It suggests May’s accusations weren’t based on genuine fear or harm but were instead performative—designed to rally her followers and paint herself as a victim in a narrative she controlled. That’s not how defamation law works.
Trumbull then did something that further demonstrates good faith: he sent May a cease-and-desist letter on September 16, explaining the legal problems with her statements and giving her until September 25 to retract. When she didn’t respond, he sent an even more comprehensive demand letter on November 19, offering to drop the entire matter if she’d simply post a retraction and apology. He wasn’t asking for money. He wanted his reputation cleared.
May ignored both letters completely.
Some might argue Trumbull’s YouTube video was harsh or unnecessary. Perhaps. But criticism, even harsh criticism, of publicly posted content isn’t defamation. What IS defamation is falsely accusing someone of crimes. The law recognizes this distinction even if social media culture sometimes doesn’t.
May also filed for a peace order against Trumbull on September 16—then failed to properly serve him four times and ultimately withdrew the petition. When Trumbull moved to shield the dismissed record, the court granted his motion, suggesting the judge found the proceeding lacked merit.
Now May faces a lawsuit seeking at least $30,000 in damages, a court-ordered retraction and apology, and a permanent injunction against further defamatory statements. The complaint details threats and harassment Trumbull received from May’s followers who believed her accusations, reputational damage to his professional work, and forced removal of his video.
Was this outcome inevitable? Absolutely not. May had multiple opportunities to avoid litigation:
- Return the documents and money when first requested
- Respond to the “High Road” email before posting accusations
- Retract her statements when the cease-and-desist letter explained why they were defamatory
- Comply with the November demand letter offering a complete resolution
She took none of these off-ramps. According to court records, she was personally served with the lawsuit on December 10, 2025. She had 30 days to plead. As of January 20, 2026, she still hasn’t filed a responsive pleading, resulting in a default order signed by a Judge.
The broader lesson here transcends May and Trumbull. Social media has created spaces where accountability operates through crowd dynamics—callouts, cancellations, and collective shaming. These mechanisms exist outside traditional legal structures and often operate on different principles. Accusations don’t require proof; contradictions don’t matter if your followers believe you; ignoring critics can be an effective strategy.
But social media exists within legal frameworks that predate it by centuries. When you make factual claims about someone—especially accusations of criminal conduct—you’re subject to defamation law regardless of your platform. When you’re sued in court, you can’t just “block” the plaintiff. Ignoring legal proceedings doesn’t make them disappear; it results in default judgment.
Ava Grace May is learning this distinction the hard way. Her case should serve as a wake-up call for content creators who treat serious accusations like just another form of engagement bait. Your followers might believe you. The legal system will demand proof.
*AI image used for dramatization purposes
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