I want to bring attention to something that’s been bothering me for a while, because I don’t think many people know the full story behind this influencer.
Who is “@anci.social” / Astha Rajyaguru?
In March 2022, Astha Rajyaguru was driving under the influence (alcohol and cocaine) when she rear-ended a parked motorcyclist in Poway, California, killing him.
The victim was Steven Lee McHenry, 59 years old.
She pled guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, among other charges.
She was sentenced to 4 years in state prison.
What’s troubling now:
Reports (and Reddit threads) say she served less than half of her sentence.
Despite this, she’s back online—creating content, growing a following, working with brands, etc.
It appears she is trying to rebrand and sanitize her public image, while many of her followers likely have no idea what she’s been convicted of.
Meanwhile, the family of the victim is left with the loss and trauma, watching someone who took their father move forward publicly.
Why this matters:
Accountability & justice: To me, it’s not enough that someone is “famous” or “a creator” — they should not be able to escape public scrutiny for actions that had irreversible consequences.
Influence and role modeling: Many people (especially younger audiences) look up to social media creators. When someone with such a serious criminal history is celebrated or supported, it sends a dangerous message about what behavior is forgivable or forgettable.
Transparency and informed choice: Followers deserve to know who they’re supporting. If someone has done something that harmed others in such a profound way, hiding or glossing over that is misleading.
Respect for victims: Too often, the stories of victims and their families get buried under the “new narrative” of a creator’s comeback.
What I hope this does:
Spark a conversation so more people know the full story.
Push brands, platforms, and followers to do their due diligence.
Advocate for media ethics: influencers should be transparent about their past, especially when they’ve caused significant harm.
If this post gets attention, I’ll try to gather more verified sources, court documents, etc., so there’s less confusion and more truth. Let me know your thoughts or if you have more info.
1 Comment
Hey everyone,
I want to bring attention to something that’s been bothering me for a while, because I don’t think many people know the full story behind this influencer.
Who is “@anci.social” / Astha Rajyaguru?
In March 2022, Astha Rajyaguru was driving under the influence (alcohol and cocaine) when she rear-ended a parked motorcyclist in Poway, California, killing him.
The victim was Steven Lee McHenry, 59 years old.
She pled guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, among other charges.
She was sentenced to 4 years in state prison.
What’s troubling now:
Reports (and Reddit threads) say she served less than half of her sentence.
Despite this, she’s back online—creating content, growing a following, working with brands, etc.
It appears she is trying to rebrand and sanitize her public image, while many of her followers likely have no idea what she’s been convicted of.
Meanwhile, the family of the victim is left with the loss and trauma, watching someone who took their father move forward publicly.
Why this matters:
Accountability & justice: To me, it’s not enough that someone is “famous” or “a creator” — they should not be able to escape public scrutiny for actions that had irreversible consequences.
Influence and role modeling: Many people (especially younger audiences) look up to social media creators. When someone with such a serious criminal history is celebrated or supported, it sends a dangerous message about what behavior is forgivable or forgettable.
Transparency and informed choice: Followers deserve to know who they’re supporting. If someone has done something that harmed others in such a profound way, hiding or glossing over that is misleading.
Respect for victims: Too often, the stories of victims and their families get buried under the “new narrative” of a creator’s comeback.
What I hope this does:
Spark a conversation so more people know the full story.
Push brands, platforms, and followers to do their due diligence.
Advocate for media ethics: influencers should be transparent about their past, especially when they’ve caused significant harm.
If this post gets attention, I’ll try to gather more verified sources, court documents, etc., so there’s less confusion and more truth. Let me know your thoughts or if you have more info.
🕊️ Rest in peace to Steven McHenry.
Let’s not let this be swept under the rug.