Sam Walker, the Liverpool-based social media personality known for his TikTok videos showcasing a flashy lifestyle, unleashed a passionate denial this week against online rumors falsely linking him to the perpetrators of the 1993 James Bulger tragedy, highlighting the ongoing sensitivity surrounding one of Britain’s most infamous cases.

The controversy erupted in mid-September 2025, when a fringe theory began circulating on platforms like X and TikTok, baselessly suggesting that Walker, 42, was in fact Robert Thompson, one of the two 10-year-olds convicted in the abduction and killing of two-year-old James Bulger from a Merseyside shopping center. The rumor, fueled by superficial comparisons of facial features such as nose shape and a mole, quickly gained traction among conspiracy enthusiasts, despite the glaring age discrepancy—Thompson would be 42 today if released under his protected identity, but Walker has a well-documented criminal record spanning decades in Liverpool.

Walker, who boasts over 400,000 followers across TikTok and Instagram, addressed the claims head-on in a video posted on September 17, 2025, captioned simply “a message.” In the clip, viewed more than 2 million times within 48 hours, he appeared visibly agitated, pacing in front of a neutral backdrop. “I’ve had enough of these idiots spreading lies about me being involved with the James Bulger thing,” he stated firmly. “It’s not just about me—it’s hurting a whole city that’s still healing from that pain. These trolls are low, using a family’s nightmare for likes. Leave it alone.” His tone mixed frustration with a call for respect, emphasizing how such speculation disrespects the Bulger family and Liverpool’s collective memory.

The James Bulger case remains a raw nerve in British society. On February 12, 1993, Bulger was lured away from his mother in the New Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle by Thompson and Jon Venables, both classmates at St. Mary’s Church of England Primary School. The boys led the toddler on a two-and-a-half-mile walk through Merseyside, subjecting him to a series of escalating disturbances before his body was discovered on a railway line near Walton Lane police station. The trial, one of the first in the UK to be televised, shocked the nation, leading to widespread debates on juvenile justice, media influence, and child protection. Thompson and Venables were convicted of murder and sentenced to be detained at Her Majesty’s pleasure, eventually released in 2001 with lifelong anonymity orders after serving eight years.

Public fascination with the case has never waned, amplified by documentaries, books, and periodic breaches of the anonymity injunction. In 2010, Venables was recalled to custody for possessing indecent images of children, and again in 2017 for similar reasons, though details remain sealed. Thompson, believed to be living a low-profile life in North West England, has largely stayed out of the spotlight. Recent AI-generated images purporting to show the men’s current appearances went viral in 2024, sparking renewed outrage and calls for transparency from figures like Bulger’s mother, Denise Fergus.

Walker’s entanglement in this narrative stems from his high-profile online persona. A self-described “fallen gangster” with over 130 prior convictions for offenses including drug possession, driving violations, and public order issues, he has transformed his past into content gold. His TikToks often feature luxury cars, cash stacks, and anecdotes from his youth in Liverpool’s tougher neighborhoods, drawing a mix of admiration and criticism. Detractors on Reddit’s r/UKtiktokbehavingbadly label him a “plastic gangster” who fabricates feuds for views, such as his 2023 online spat with retired figure Stephen French and a bizarre 2019 exchange with actor Stephen Fry.

Yet Walker’s reach extends beyond entertainment. In 2024, he fled the UK to Sierra Leone after skipping bail on suspicion of a drug supply plot, taunting authorities via live streams about his “mission” to aid slum communities and expose charity corruption. Extradited in March 2024 and arrested mid-TikTok broadcast by local officers, he returned to face charges, only to pivot back to philanthropy claims. Videos from Freetown showed him distributing aid, though skeptics questioned the authenticity, pointing to his history of blending bravado with benevolence.

The Bulger rumor appears to have originated from anonymous X accounts, including one user @Arron64238Arron, who in October 2025 posted manipulated clips alleging Walker “slipped up” by referencing details only insiders would know. Another post claimed Bulger’s father had “confirmed” the link, a fabrication quickly debunked by fact-checkers. Walker dismissed these as “clout-chasing nonsense,” urging followers to report the accounts. “I’ve got my own troubles—court dates, family life—but this? This crosses a line,” he added in a follow-up reel.

The outburst comes amid a string of recent incidents underscoring Walker’s turbulent 2025. On August 17, armed officers stormed Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral, where Walker was celebrating the birth of his twin daughters, following a hoax call reporting him with a firearm. Detained for four hours alongside his newborns, he was released without charge and blamed “vile trolls” on TikTok, amassing 1.5 million views on his account of the ordeal. “They knew I was there for the happiest day of my life and turned it into chaos,” he recounted, calling for police to trace the caller’s voice. Merseyside Police confirmed the arrest of a 42-year-old man on suspicion of firearm possession but took no further action.

In September, Walker faced Dublin District Court for four driving offenses, pleading guilty while live-streaming the proceedings—a move that earned him a suspended one-month sentence for contempt. Judge Michael Connellan reprimanded him: “This is not a public bar; it’s a court of law.” Undeterred, Walker framed the hearing as “transparency” content, boosting his engagement by 20%.

Social media’s role in perpetuating such rumors has drawn expert commentary. Dr. Emily Carter, a digital ethics lecturer at the University of Liverpool, told The Guardian that platforms’ algorithms favor sensationalism, turning grief into gossip. “The Bulger case is a proxy for broader anxieties about justice and identity. Linking a local figure like Walker exploits that for virality, but it retraumatizes survivors.” Denise Fergus, now an advocate for child safety through her J4M Foundation, has long campaigned against anonymity breaches. In a 2024 statement, she decried “heartless speculation” that “reopens wounds without purpose.”

Walker’s response has polarized his audience. Supporters flooded comments with heart emojis and demands for troll accountability, while critics mocked the denial as “protesting too much.” One X thread amassed 5,000 replies, debating Walker’s credibility: “If he’s so clean now, why the constant court drama?” versus “Leave the man alone—he’s building a family.”

As of late October 2025, the rumor has faded from trending topics, but its echoes linger. Walker announced plans for a podcast series on “overcoming street life,” teasing episodes with reformed associates. His TikTok bio now reads: “From Liverpool streets to global lessons. No lies, just life.” Whether this marks a genuine pivot or savvy rebrand remains to be seen.

The saga underscores the double-edged sword of social media fame: instant connection, endless scrutiny. For Walker, it’s a reminder that in the digital age, even a whisper can ignite a firestorm—especially when it touches a tragedy as enduring as Bulger’s. Platforms like TikTok have since removed several offending posts under community guidelines, but the damage to discourse is harder to erase.

In Liverpool, where community ties run deep, Walker’s plea for restraint resonates. “We’re a city that remembers,” he concluded in his video. “Don’t make us relive the worst of it for your entertainment.” As he navigates fatherhood and fresh starts, one thing is clear: Sam Walker’s story, rumors and all, is far from over.