Facebook posting causes street brawl, police say

A 13-year-old girl's Facebook posting of another girl's photo side by side with a large young actress' photo erupted into a street fight on Madison's southeast side Monday night, with upwards of 15 people, mostly teen girls and women, duking it out, police said.

According to the Madison Police Department, the fight was reported at 10:55 p.m. on Great Gray Drive, near McFarland, and apparently started when the girl who made the posting challenged the other 13-year-old girl to a fight, also through Facebook.

"Police found 10-15 people engaged in a physical confrontation," said police spokesman Joel DeSpain. "Most were women, both teens and adults."

Police said the fight participants scattered when squad cars rolled up, and various items were left in the street, including socks, rubber bands, hair ties, hair extensions, and a claw hammer.

"The mother of one of the 13-year-old girls said it all started when the other girl began posting pictures of her daughter side by side with those of a heavy-set actress from the movie 'Precious,' " DeSpain said.

The actress is Gabourey Sidibe; the movie came out in 2009.

"Derogatory comments also apparently were made about the 13-year-old girl," DeSpain said.

Police said the comments and photos turned to blows on Monday night when the two teens started fighting in the street, and the fight grew as more people joined in.

"Two adult women and three teenaged girls were cited for disorderly conduct," DeSpain said.