Christina Formella wants the world to believe she’s the one being wronged. The former teacher, facing staggering accusations of repeatedly raping a 15-year-old student, is now pointing fingers. At the media, at public opinion, and at what she calls a deeply sexist system that punishes women for their looks rather than their alleged crimes.
In a sharp twist, her defense has swerved away from legal arguments and into cultural commentary. In Wednesday’s court drama, her camp had shifted the narrative entirely. A family representative stood before reporters, not to deny the charges, but to launch a counterattack. Claiming the real injustice is how society vilifies women like Formella not for what they’ve done, but for how they appear. “It’s a spectacle,” the rep said. “A ritual that punishes women, not actions.”
Christina Formella Spins Misogyny Defense in Shocking Abuse Case
They argue that male perpetrators get the benefit of calm courtrooms and facts. But when it’s a woman, they say, people pounce on lipstick and lifestyle. Formella’s side is furious that commentary has focused more on her wardrobe than on procedure. “This isn’t justice,” the family rep said bluntly. “It’s persecution disguised as accountability.”
The outcry came on a day Formella walked into court beside her seemingly unsuspecting husband, Michael. Their united front came as she asked a judge to let her live closer to the teen she allegedly abused. She claimed the current no-contact radius. Meant to protect the victim, interferes with her daily life. The judge denied her request.
NEW: The husband of Illinois teacher Christina Formella is asked point-blank about how he feels about his wife allegedly sleeping with a child in his own home.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 2, 2025
Brutal.
Formella's husband is sticking with her after it was revealed she allegedly had s*x with the child at least… pic.twitter.com/8x3R6GUe7Q
The case remains staggering in its scope. Prosecutors allege over 50 sexual encounters, many inside the school where she taught. Dozens of texts reportedly capture Formella expressing love and sexual desire for the boy. One chilling message read, “I love having s*x with you.” Another suggested they “break up until after the wedding.” She now faces 55 criminal charges and up to 60 years in prison.
Yet despite the damning details, her team insists the real story is about how women are treated when accused. The family says she’s been “hunted” by the media and turned into a “caricature.” Whether that strategy will sway a jury, or the public, remains to be seen.
