Journalist and political strategist Tezlyn Figaro is turning up the pressure on Brandon Tatum, challenging the conservative commentator to debate her over the Nolan Wells case after he described her as “super ghetto.”
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In an August 14 Instagram post, Figaro accused Tatum of avoiding a direct debate because she would challenge his reporting and conclusions about Wells in front of his audience. Figaro leaned into the insult, writing that her “SUPER GHETTO” self would embarrass him on the facts surrounding the case.
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The latest confrontation follows Figaro’s August 12 public debate challenge, in which she called for an unedited discussion centered on Wells and Tatum’s commentary about the investigation. Figaro and Tatum have already faced off publicly on NewsNation, where Tatum argued that the Wells family should stop “interjecting race” into the case.
The “super ghetto” remark surfaced during Tatum’s discussion with psychotherapist Elliott Connie. In the clip shared by Figaro, Tatum indicated he was not completely opposed to debating her, but criticized what he characterized as her disrespectful approach. Figaro responded by making it clear that she still wants the debate and believes their disagreement should be settled by examining the evidence publicly.
Their dispute has intensified as Tatum has interviewed people who were with Wells around the time he disappeared. Tatum interviewed Warren Hudson and later sat down with Hudson, Jax Pitalo, and Morgan Seymour as they addressed questions and criticism surrounding the case.
The Nolan Wells case remains unresolved. The 18-year-old Southwest Mississippi Community College football player traveled to Horn Island, Mississippi, with friends on July 4. His friends returned to the mainland without him, and Wells was found dead along the island’s shoreline two days later. The AP also reported that Wells did not have his cellphone or keys when his friends left because those items were in their possession.
Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter told the AP that investigators did not suspect foul play. Wells’ parents, however, have questioned the circumstances surrounding their son’s final hours and pushed for a more extensive investigation.
A private autopsy commissioned by the family found no fractures or deep tissue injuries but could not determine the cause or manner of Wells’ death. According to Reuters, forensic pathologist Roger Mitchell said he could not rule out whether nonaccidental factors contributed to Wells’ death without additional information.
The state autopsy is now complete, but the findings have not been made public and will be presented to a grand jury.
That uncertainty is why Figaro’s challenge to Tatum has moved beyond an online personality clash. She wants the competing narratives surrounding Nolan Wells tested in a direct debate, and for now, that challenge remains on the table.
