A case of mistaken identity: the tale of two Danielle Smiths

Call it a case of mistaken identity.

Alberta’s new premier-designate Danielle Smith shares her name with an American TV anchor.

The American Smith is now facing the premier’s share of political backlash on her social media accounts.

Good morning twitter. Good news, I’m still me. I am NOT that other Danielle Smith who is now the Premier elect of Alberta. ♥️ happy to tweet with you, but I don’t do hate, and it appears she and I don’t have a lot in common. ????

— Danielle Smith (@DanielleSmithTV) October 7, 2022

“Danielle Smith, not the premier of Alberta, changing their profile… maybe will have to do that if it gets bad enough,” said Mario Byte, a journalist and media training specialist.

Based in St. Louis in the U.S. the other Danielle Smith says on her Twitter profile that she is a former TV anchor, not Alberta premier.

Just one day into this confusion and she was forced to edit her bio, thanks to the users’ social media habits.

“You just have a thought in your head and you want to express it, boom look it up. Oh, there’s Danielle Smith not even taking the time to look.. And people don’t spend the time to stop and think and so things are very reactionary like that,” said Byte.

Read More:

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• Alberta MLA steps aside, encourages incoming premier Smith to run in the seat

• Danielle Smith wins UCP leadership to become Alberta premier

The American Danielle Smith has been on Twitter since 2008 but her account is blowing up now that Alberta’s UCP leader Danielle Smith is premier.

“I am not a fortune teller, and good for her for being proactive. I regret we’re in such chaos not only in our country but in North America and the world. So many people pointing fingers and using blaming language,” said Patricia Morgan, a media resilience speaker and author.

Two people having the same name on social media is not uncommon but dimensions change when one of them is a politician and the other person is not.

The same is the case for former Alberta premier, Jason Kenney, and a Virginia man who have the same name.

He was confused to be the premier so many times that actual shirts were printed with his picture and name to clarify his identity.

The former American anchor Danielle Smith is shown (Photo: Danielle Smith via Twitter)

The former American anchor Danielle Smith is shown (Photo: Danielle Smith via Twitter)

The former American anchor Danielle Smith is shown (Photo: Danielle Smith via Twitter)