The Missing Case Of Janelle Kelly From Sacramento Was Just A Skit

Janelle Kelly, a name that became a household topic, was never actually a missing person.

Kelly is a fictional character created by The Onion for a satirical news segment. 

Highlights

• Janelle Kelly is a fictional character whose disappearance was a comedic sketch from The Onion’s show Today Now. 
• Kelly’s best friend also asked for help posting her photo on Facebook. 
• They also organized the Amber alert across the state of California. 

She was the subject of a mock missing person case premiered on The Onion’s “Today Now” show on May 17, 2011. 

While Janelle doesn’t exist, her case surged discussions about media sensationalism and the importance of media literacy in distinguishing fact from fiction in news consumption. 

The skit featured Janelle’s friends pleading for her release, parodying media coverage of real missing person cases. 

Janelle Kelly’s Friends Reached In The Onion Show To Seek Help To Find Her

The narrative of Jenelle Kelly’s missing was a comedic sketch from The Onion’s show, Today Now, which aimed to parody the media’s approach. 

“Missing Teen’s Friends Go On TV To Plead For Her Release” was a segment broadcasted on May 27, 2011, which featured two characters, Megan Cleary and Katie Clements, appearing as Kelly’s best friend. 

According to the show, she went missing on February 4, 2006, when she was 17 years old. She was seen at a local coffee shop around 3:30 PM, where Janelle and her friend used to hang out. 

By 5:00 PM, cameras captured Kelly walking toward the park, the last visual confirmation of her whereabouts. 

Megan and Katie said they had posted Janelle’s photo on Facebook for help. 

 

Megan and Katie also announced that they have organized an Amber alert across California. They requested that all donations be sent as Guess Gift Cards.

They were there to seek help, but the session quickly became full of school gossip, adding a comedic twist to the segment. 

It portrayed their indifference to Janelle’s situation, even admitting to ignoring a call from her. 

However, the segment ended with an appeal for a tip about Janelle’s whereabouts, further confusing reality and satire. 

The skit was a satirical attempt to criticize the media’s tendency to sensationalize missing-person stories, particularly those involving young women. 

Unaware of The Onion’s satirical nature, some viewers mistook the narrative for reality and expressed genuine concern for Janelle and her family. 

Moreover, the segment has also created discussion in reddit. One of the users posted, 

One of my recent favourites by the Onion: Missing Teen’s Friends Go On TV To Plead For Her Release

Another user named thatstheguy jokingly commented, 

Breaking news: Janelle has been found in Johnny Pineapple’s nutshell.

Additional Information

• Janelle’s best friends said that law enforcement teams poured countless hours into solving the mystery of her disappearance.
• Some people thought she may have run away, but her family insists this is out of character. 
• The Onion posted the video of Janelle’s best friend on YouTube on May 18, 2011, which has garnered over 7.3 million views.