The Mermaid Riots

This episode dives into one of the strangest chapters of Southern folklore and human hysteria. When rumors spread that a captured mermaid had arrived in Charleston, curiosity quickly twisted into obsession, drawing massive crowds desperate to see the mysterious creature. What began as fascination spiraled into chaos, tension, and violence as fear, spectacle, and deception collided in the streets. In this episode, we unravel how the legend began, why people became consumed by it, and whether there was ever truly a mermaid at all or just a powerful tale that exposed the darker, wilder side of human behavior.