Basically... a year ago, I made a joke on a FB page. There was a local woman's group called Ladies in Blackpool (changed name) and they all fell out. So, another group started called Blackpool Ladies. I thought it was all ridiculous and put up a Monty Python sketch (Judean People's Front/People's Front of Judea).
The admin fell out with me. I left. All very childish, I know.
The whole episode lasted five minutes (between joining, taking the piss and leaving). Since then she is doing everything in her power to destroy me.
She has sent messages to people who work for me to warn them of my "bad side". So... I sent a message to her asking if we could just put it all behind us and that I was sorry for the joke and that it would be great if we could just make amends and move on. It was a very arse-licking message full of apologies and regret and how I was just being ironinc and it was over a year ago and I'd like to put it all behind us.
I sent it to her husband though because she had blocked me. No reply.
Then more messages come to me from other sources sent by her saying I drink (I probably have two drinks a YEAR) and have psychological issues and I'm a troll and a stalker and have been writing to her husband and that nothing to do with me can be put on her page.
Someone shared a post to her page that I had written about a lost dog. She took it down and explained that it was because she won't publicise me in any way. It was about trying to find a lost dog! He's still missing!
She is damaging my reputation. I live in a small community. She is very careful and never publishes comments. It's all done in private messages. But four people have told me about it... so how many people is she talking to and why???
I'm worried about my business and I'm worried that people will think I'm a drunk, single mother with a baby. I feel vulnerable, sad, bullied.
Can I do something? Should I ignore her? People who know me will know it's just not true... but the women love a bit of gossip around here. Those who haven't met me will form opinions.
What would you do?
For context - she is thrity years older than me. I run a charity in our community. That's the "business". She can't affect my actual job because it's too niche and I'm self-employed anyway, but she could turn people away from supporting the charity (an animal charity). That's what upsets me the most. She clearly doesn't like me, but that shouldn't have anything to do with what my volunteers are trying to do for animals. Nor the animals themselves.
She also took down a post of four ittle black kittens needing homes. Again, because my number was given in the contact details.
I have never met this woman.
I have only ever put up the piss-taking video. It was ME who did that, on my own time, as me. It had nothing to do with my charity. And I have apologised for it. A lot. Overkill on the apology front.
Part of me wants to really let her have it and tell her that if it continues, I will be seeing a solicitor. Can I do that? Have I to just let it go?
I'm torn between rising above it and kicking her arse.