Joe Petito combats MWWS with new series
Gabby Petito was a YouTube Vlogger who disappeared on a cross country journey with her boyfriend Brian Laundrie. She disappeared in 2021. A documentary was made about her story “The Murder of Gabby Petito: Truth, Lies and Social Media’ aired on Peacock.
Joe Petito
Gabby’s dad became upset when he first heard the phrase ‘Missing White Woman Syndrome’ (MWWS). He stated “I never heard the term before.” Because he realized there was national attention brought to his daughter’s case through social media.
Joe stated “I knew nothing about the term, but I didn’t like it. Everyone deserves the same type of attention, and every story deserves the same type of assistance.” Now he and his family want to shine the light on those cases.
He is working with Backlot Production and Boundless Films to do just that.
The documentary will be titled ‘Faces of The Missing’.
It is unsure when it will air or on what streaming networks Netflix, Paramount or Peacock. But Gabby’s family wants to shed light on this issue.
Joe Petito offers up plans
“We have a plan to get as many people’s stories in front of as many people as we can and hopefully it works.” Joe said in a PEOPLE interview. Because his daughter’s story was out on social media, he feels that everyone’s story should be out there on social media.
Acknowledging because social media was going wild about Gabby’s story, national attention was brought to her case. The family believes that this exposure helped bring her case to a close fast for the authorities.
After Gabby’s death Gabby’s mom Nicole and husband Jim along with her Dad and his wife Tara founded ‘The Gabby Petito Foundation’. This foundation brings attention to domestic violence, creating new laws and how police deal with intimate partner abuse and missing persons.
“I understand what it takes, the heartache, the anxiety and the hopelessness. But I only had to endure it for a week and a half. Others have had to endure a lifetime, years of not knowing. And I don’t know how people dealt with that. My heart breaks.” Joe said.
In recent months the whole family has used their platform to bring awareness to the thousands of missing and unsolved murders of people of color and Indigenous people. Acknowledging 7 bodies were found while searching for his daughter.
The family has learned the louder you get the more the story stays in the forefront. They believe social media is the key. The family are trying to continue the work Gabby started; bringing awareness to those who have no voice.
Photo Credit: YouTube
Quote Excerpts: PEOPLE
