Indian woman seeks help in getting F-1 visa appointment, Bill Ackman responds and receives massive backlash: 'Why don't you finance a Harvard in Kerala'

July 19, 2026 - 01:34

A woman from Kerala, India, who said she earned admission to Harvard Law School with a scholarship covering over 90% of her costs, has deleted her social media account after a plea for help with a visa appointment spiraled into a major online controversy.

Threcy Jo Lawrence posted on X, formerly Twitter, expressing her frustration at being unable to secure an appointment for an F-1 student visa. Her post caught the attention of billionaire investor Bill Ackman, who responded. The interaction quickly drew a massive wave of criticism, with many users questioning why a wealthy individual like Ackman would involve himself in a routine immigration issue.

The backlash turned sharp. One viral response read, "Why don't you finance a Harvard in Kerala," mocking the idea that a single person's visa problem required the intervention of a high-profile billionaire. Others accused Lawrence of entitlement, arguing that thousands of international students face the same bureaucratic hurdles without seeking celebrity help.

Facing a torrent of negative replies, Lawrence deleted both her original post and her entire X account. The incident has reignited debates about privilege, the power dynamics of social media, and the often opaque process of securing U.S. student visas. Neither Lawrence nor Ackman have commented further since the account deletion.