NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn't happen this week

<p>A roundup of some of the most popular, but completely untrue, headlines of the week. None of these stories are legit, even though they were shared widely on social media.</p>

News 12 Staff

Oct 6, 2017, 8:37 PM

Updated 2,386 days ago

Share:

NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn't happen this week
By The Associated Press
A roundup of some of the most popular, but completely untrue, headlines of the week. None of these stories are legit, even though they were shared widely on social media. The Associated Press checked these out; here are the real facts:
NOT REAL: Las Vegas Shooting Exposed as Antifa-led False Flag Attack
THE FACTS: Despite headlines floated by numerous websites, authorities have revealed no links between Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock and the antifa movement that was spotlighted after a deadly white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Some articles include fabricated screen grabs of tweets attributed to President Donald Trump outing Paddock as a member of antifa - far-left militant groups that resist neo-Nazis and white supremacists. InfoWars, the website of right-wing conspiracy theorist and radio host Alex Jones, claimed in a story that an anonymous FBI source told the outlet antifa literature was found in Paddock's room. No such material can be seen in photos of the suite, and the FBI has given no indication that Paddock was connected to any group.
____
NOT REAL: Las Vegas: Video Confirms Multiple Shooters, Co-ordinated Attack
THE FACTS: A flickering light coming from a floor below Las Vegas Stephen Paddock's room helped spawn dozens of reports, many on conspiracy-themed sites, that gunshots were fired from two locations at the Mandalay Bay resort. Authorities said quickly after Paddock was found dead that there were no other shooters. Several videos of the flickering light show it coming from the fourth floor before the gunfire began on the 32nd floor. An Australian man who said he was in a room next to Paddock also added to the reports with a Facebook post that "multiple shooters" were at the scene. Brian Hodge retracted the account a day later.
____
NOT REAL: Gordon Ramsay Has His Entire Staff Take A Knee-Refuses To Serve Miami Dolphins Players
THE FACTS: The restaurant named in this story created by hoax site The Last Line of Defense doesn't even exist. The story claims four Dolphins players were denied service at Ramsay's gastropub in New York City's SoHo neighborhood with Ramsay calling them disrespectful. Ramsay's spokeswoman tells The Associated Press the chef has no gastropub in SoHo and the story is "nonsense."
___
NOT REAL: This man posed proudly with the bear he shot while it was hibernating
THE FACTS: The article centers on a new federal law that removes protections for hibernating bears. However, a photo showing a smiling man holding up the paw of a dead bear in a snowy location is completely unrelated to the law. The picture was taken at Alaska's Becharof National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge's Facebook page shared the picture last year, saying the bear was legally taken during the refuge's spring hunt in 2014. At the time, it would have been illegal to kill a hibernating bear.
___
NOT REAL: Pizza Hut is giving 3 FREE Large Pizza Coupon on their 58th Anniversary
THE FACTS: This offer is too good to be true, despite several Facebook posts that have been circulating in recent weeks. The posts take users to a website that prompts them to take a survey and share the post on Facebook in order to receive a coupon. Pizza Hut responded to a similar "anniversary" scam on its own Facebook page last year. The company said the coupon offer was fraudulent and that any legitimate deal would be found on its website or social media pages. Also, it's not Pizza Hut's 58th anniversary. The chain turned 59 back in June.
___
This weekly fixture is part of The Associated Press' ongoing efforts to fact-check claims in suspected false news stories.
Find all AP Fact Checks here: https://www.apnews.com/tag/APFactCheck
Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


More from News 12
1:37
Officials: Some Marlboro schools, Trenton Board of Ed receive bomb threat 2nd day in a row

Officials: Some Marlboro schools, Trenton Board of Ed receive bomb threat 2nd day in a row

2:10
Rain showers return tonight in New Jersey; temps warm up for the weekend

Rain showers return tonight in New Jersey; temps warm up for the weekend

NJDOT looks to complete emergency repairs on Route 71 Bridge in Belmar by Memorial Day

NJDOT looks to complete emergency repairs on Route 71 Bridge in Belmar by Memorial Day

Prosecutors: Atlantic City’s Central Pier bursts into flames; 1 man dead

Prosecutors: Atlantic City’s Central Pier bursts into flames; 1 man dead

0:35
How to get rid of unused or expired medications

How to get rid of unused or expired medications

2:51
EPA: Elevated levels of lead found at multiple East Trenton homes, parks

EPA: Elevated levels of lead found at multiple East Trenton homes, parks

0:25
Boil water advisory issued for parts of Monmouth County

Boil water advisory issued for parts of Monmouth County

0:36
NJ General Assembly passes bill to combat school bus driver shortage

NJ General Assembly passes bill to combat school bus driver shortage

0:24
Former NJ elementary school employee sentenced for possession of child porn involving at least 79 victims

Former NJ elementary school employee sentenced for possession of child porn involving at least 79 victims

2:32
Main Street New Jersey: Some great food spots to try in South River

Main Street New Jersey: Some great food spots to try in South River

0:25
NJ Department of Education awarding over $9 million in grants to help students with disabilities

NJ Department of Education awarding over $9 million in grants to help students with disabilities

2:19
Paws & Pals: Ellie Mae now up for adoption with Best Friend Dog and Animal Adoption

Paws & Pals: Ellie Mae now up for adoption with Best Friend Dog and Animal Adoption

Is your mom awesome? New Jersey tell us why your Mom Rocks!

Is your mom awesome? New Jersey tell us why your Mom Rocks!

0:25
New Jersey native Jack Leiter makes pitching debut for Rangers as they beat Tigers 9-7

New Jersey native Jack Leiter makes pitching debut for Rangers as they beat Tigers 9-7

0:54
Guide: How to host Passover on a budget

Guide: How to host Passover on a budget

Show off your team spirit! Share your photos with News 12

Show off your team spirit! Share your photos with News 12

0:29
GoFundMe pages created for Paterson families displaced by house fires

GoFundMe pages created for Paterson families displaced by house fires

2:43
‘Now he literally has a part of me.’ Brother donates part of his liver to twin

‘Now he literally has a part of me.’ Brother donates part of his liver to twin

0:27
Police: Husband and wife stole jewelry from Bridgewater retirement facility

Police: Husband and wife stole jewelry from Bridgewater retirement facility

2:23
Rutgers police: Person charged for shooting people with Orbeez gun

Rutgers police: Person charged for shooting people with Orbeez gun