Life & Work with Ricardo Nievez of Denver Colorado

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ricardo Nievez.

Hi Ricardo , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?

My story begins with something simple: a deep love for Disney and the character Tod from The Fox and the Hound. I created my fan page in 2017 because Tod represents qualities I’ve always connected with — resilience, loyalty, and emotional courage.

As someone on the autism spectrum, I’ve often felt misunderstood, and Tod’s journey mirrored my own in a way that made me feel seen.

My goal was to build a positive, safe space for Disney fans and share joy through the stories I loved.

In 2019, everything shifted. A group of accounts began targeting me online.

They took screenshots of my profile, shared private conversations, spread false claims, and created posts that misrepresented who I was. Even after blocking them, the harassment continued for years. Some of those posts are still online today, despite multiple reports. It was humiliating and deeply affected my life in Denver, especially because misunderstandings made it harder to communicate with some of the housing and support organizations I depended on.

Eventually, I wrote my full story publicly on my website to reclaim my voice. I indeed wanted people to believe it that I am a real person — not a character, not a rumor, and not the “boy who cried wolf.”

Sharing my story now feels like a late Christmas wish and a New Year plea: a wish for understanding, a plea for a clean slate, and a chance to finally be heard after years of being misunderstood .

Today, I’m still living with the impact of those old posts.

The content targeting me is still visible online, and it has affected how people see me — even people who have never met me. It has made it harder to build new friendships when others come across those posts before they ever meet the real me. These misunderstandings also affected how some people, including professionals in the community, perceived me.

That has been one of the most painful parts of this journey: feeling judged by something that isn’t who I am.

The misunderstanding also affected my life offline.

During a difficult period, misunderstandings about me contributed to challenges in my housing and support systems. It has taken time to rebuild trust and explain my side of the story.

Despite everything, I’m focused on healing, rebuilding my life, and creating a healthier online environment.

I still believe in kindness, community, and the values that inspired my fan page in the first place. I’m sharing my story because I want others to stop online harassment and learn others how it feels like, and how important it is to treat people with dignity.

My hope is that by speaking openly, I can move forward, rebuild my future, and help create safer spaces for others who have been targeted or misrepresented online.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road at all. One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced is being misunderstood when I reached out for help. Many times, I tried to report harmful posts or explain what was happening to me, but instead of people reading my concerns, they assumed I was doing something wrong. I wasn’t trying to harass anyone I was trying to protect myself but my intentions were often misinterpreted.

This misunderstanding also happened when I reached out to professionals and organizations. I’ve had a therapist since mid‑2025, but I still struggle to get the support I truly need. I also contacted autism‑related organizations hoping for guidance, but sometimes my attempts to communicate were taken the wrong way. As an autistic adult, being misunderstood repeatedly has been one of the hardest obstacles in my journey.

The online harassment created long‑term challenges too. Some of the old posts about me are still visible, and they affect how some Instagram influencers and people online see me even people who have never met me. It has made it harder to build friendships or feel safe socially when others judge me based on misinformation instead of who I really am.

These misunderstandings even affected my life offline. During a difficult period, information about me was shared in ways that led to real‑world consequences, including losing stability in my housing and support systems. It has taken a lot of strength to keep going, rebuild trust, and explain my side of the story.

Despite everything, I’m still trying to move forward.

The challenges have shaped me, but they haven’t stopped me. They’ve taught me resilience, patience, and the importance of speaking up for myself even when the road has been far from smooth.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work is centered around creativity, storytelling, and using a character to express my own lived experience. I created a fan page where Tod from The Fox and the Hound represents me — not because I think I’m a character, but because Tod symbolizes qualities that have guided me through some of the hardest moments of my life.

I chose Tod because he represents so much more than a cute animated fox. His story is about resilience, loyalty, and the courage to face challenges with kindness. Throughout the film, Tod goes through separation, misunderstanding, and painful changes, yet he stays true to himself. His strength isn’t physical — it’s emotional. He keeps going even when life is unfair. That mirrors my own journey as an autistic adult navigating misunderstanding, online harassment, and the struggle to be seen for who I really am. I really want go Disney Land.

My fan page became a place where I could express myself, share reflections, and create a positive space for others who love Disney stories. What I’m known for is blending creativity with honesty. I don’t just post images — I share meaning, symbolism, and my personal story of resilience. I specialize in creating content that is heartfelt and real, using Tod as a reminder of my own strength and growth.

What I’m most proud of is that, despite years of online challenges, I’ve continued to speak up, reclaim my voice, and turn painful experiences into something meaningful. What sets me apart is my willingness to be transparent about my struggles and to use my creativity as a way to heal, connect, and help others feel less alone. My work isn’t just about a fan page — it’s about resilience, emotional courage, and creating a safer, kinder online community.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
People can support me by engaging with my work in a positive and understanding way. My fan page and my storytelling are built around resilience, kindness, and creating a safer online community. Anyone who wants to support me can do so by reading my story, following my page, and helping create a space where people treat each other with dignity. Even small things like leaving encouraging comments or reporting harmful content when they see it make a real difference.

I’m open to collaborating with people who care about online safety, disability inclusion, and creative storytelling. Whether it’s sharing experiences, creating content together, or simply connecting through my page, I appreciate anyone who wants to help build a kinder community. What matters most to me is working with people who understand my journey and who value honesty, empathy, and respect.

I appreciate the support I indeed need from professionals and organizations who understand my journey and value dignity and communication.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://disneyfoxandhound.wixsite.com/original-tod-fox-blo/online-resilience-incident
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/disneytodfoxhound
• Other: https://linktr.ee/thefoxandhound

Image Credits
Screenshot by Ricardo (known original_tod_fox)