The saga of Carolyn Freeman, known to many as the "BirdLady" and a self-proclaimed Atlanta Falcons superfan, has taken another twist. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, a Fulton County Superior Court judge has issued a bench warrant for Freeman's arrest following her failure to appear in court on Monday. Freeman stands accused of theft by deception, having allegedly scammed a group of Kansas City Chiefs fans out of $14,000, which was to be used for a catered tailgate party with live entertainment that never transpired.
The legal proceedings stem from an incident where Freeman had purportedly pledged to provide an elaborate pre-game experience for the Chiefs fans prior to a game against the Atlanta Falcons. Despite taking the substantial sum of money, Freeman did not deliver on the promised event. She had pleaded not guilty to the charges in April. Her lawyer mentioned, as reported by Atlanta News First, that "his client informed him Sunday night she couldn’t attend," but was still seeking to hear why she did not show up to court.
Compounding the accusations, Freeman's charitable organization, Birdlady Cares Inc., has been drawn into the controversy. The nonprofit, registered as a 501(c)(3) that purports to serve children affected by abuse and domestic violence, was allegedly set to receive part of the funds collected for the tailgates. However, doubts have been cast on these claims, and Galore, a philanthropic research site, details the nonprofit's mission, thus bringing its financial activities under increased scrutiny.
Freeman, whose fandom garnered her notoriety and acclaim, including being named a 2016 Bud Light NFL Super Fan, had her image featured inside the Mercedes-Benz Stadium by Equifax in the previous season. Following investigations into her activities, Equifax was prompted to remove her image from the billboard. Freeman had been released on bond on November 8, 2024, the amount set at $2,500, which allowed her to not have to attend a preliminary hearing set for November 27. A spokesperson for AMB Sports and Entertainment, owner of both the Falcons and Mercedes-Benz Stadium, has refrained from issuing any comment regarding the incident or Freeman's arrest.
