It’s nice to see fake news is still alive and well in America!
Earlier today, a website posing as USA Today reported a totally fake story about an Oklahoma man doing something very believable:
A Bartlesville man has been arrested after he accidentally burned down his home by attempting to burn a pair of Nike sneakers in protest of the latest Colin Kaepernick Ad.
According to authorities, Jason Helms, 26, placed a pair of Nike sneakers in his garage and soaked them in Kerosene before lighting them on fire and filming it with his iPhone. The fire ended up spreading to the garage walls and ceiling before spreading to his actual home. Helms called 911 but by the time firefighters arrived they were unable to save his home.
People across the country have been setting their Nike shoes on fire in protest against Nike, who recently made an Ad featuring controversial NFL star Colin Kaepernick and reading: “Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything… Just do it”. Officer Don Greenstein encourages people, “Don’t burn your Nike gear, just send them over to me”.
Although I don’t think it’s illegal (yet) to accidentally burn your house down, I’d like to give the Macedonian teenagers who crafted this work of art a solid A-.
Not only did they do a great job designing their fake news website – at a glance, it really does look like USA Today – but the headline is brilliant. It strikes that fine balance between attention-getting absurdity and believability that every fake news article needs. Oklahoma man sets fire to home while trying to burn Nikes??? Unless you have a level four or above B.S. Meter, who’s not going to fall for that? In fact, it’s so believable that KJRH in Tulsa took the bait.
Check this out:
Not too long after KJRH reported the story on their website, they realized they were duped and took it down. That’s a classy move. It’s nice to know that they have a sharp, knowledgeable team of editors who are fast to act after publishing a very false story.
One news outlet that didn’t fall for the ruse was the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise. They actually conducted real-life reporting to see if the story was true, and learn that it wasn’t.
Bartlesville fire and police officials said Thursday a story circulating on social media about a Bartlesville man burning down his house because of a protest over Nike products is a hoax.
Bartlesville Police Department Sgt. Robert Boals said the department has received several inquiries about the false story.
“We have gotten calls from several TV stations about that, and it is completely not true,” Boals said. “We have not made any arrest or responded to any call like that.”..
The false article concludes with a quote from an officer named Don Greenstein encouraging people, “don’t burn your Nike gear, just send them over to me.”
“We don’t even have a guy named Don Greenstein at the Department,” Boals said. “It’s all completely made up.”
Want to have some fun tonight? Call the Bartlesville Police Department and say you want to donate shoes to Mr. Greenstein.
I would not burn up comfy shoes for any politcal reason.
Only way I would, would be if Colin Kaepernick were standing in them! (only kidding -well sort of)
I take it you would prefer using a rope?
It would have been justified if it was a MAGA hat.
If I was a betting man, I’d bet that every person angry at Kaepernick:
– Had no issues with players staying in the locker room during the anthem before the NFL was paid to make them stand out there
– Have never raised a stink about people in the crowd keeping their hats on or milling about on their phones
– Don’t care one bit that Kaep started kneeling because a veteran told him that it was a respectful way to protest the anthem
– Don’t care when local teams change the last line for “school spirit” (Land of the free, home of the SOONERS!!!!!)
– Don’t care when the flag code is violated by people wearing it as clothing
– Have complained about violent or destructive protests in the past
– Really, truly knows that deep down, that their anger has nothing to do with veterans or the flag or “respect,” and are just angry at a black man protesting something they don’t like.
And don’t care or understand:
The US Code states “The Flag is considered to be a living symbol of freedom.”
Freedom….The 1st Amendment…is 1st for a reason.
There is a gif that will be showing up soon, of a true patriot standing behind Agent Orange at his bund rally, just last night, showing proper flag etiquette – by wiping her snotty nose on it.
….but at least she isn’t kneeling!
https://www.wonkette.com/dear-miss-manners-whats-the-proper-way-to-wipe-your-nose-on-a-flag-at-a-trump-rally
Damn! That’s quite a video. A Pulitzer for whoever took it.
Yes, she isn’t kneeling. But more importantly… she’s white. So it’s OK.
“…– Don’t care one bit that Kaep started kneeling because a veteran told him that it was a respectful way to protest the anthem…”
He and others were in no way PROTESTING THE ANTHEM. Please don’t spread this stuff – it’s bad enough when the MAGAbots do it. It is a protest against police violence against blacks and other minorities way out of proportion to treatment of white suspects. They kneeling is/was to raise awareness of this dichotomy of treatment.
Thank you for the correction, I meant to say protest during the anthem. My mistake.
Add to the list, in line for beer and hot dogs while the anthem plays.
– and really only watches the NFL for the national anthem anyway…