Senator Ted Cruz found himself in the midst of online mockery as he stumbled into believing a fake photo of sharks swimming on a flooded LA highway. Here’s the full story.
The Incident
This incident unfolded on Monday, August 21, and quickly went viral across social media platforms.
An Obviously Manipulated Image
The story began when Cruz quote-tweeted a post by Dan “Big Cat” Katz that showcased an obviously manipulated image of a shark swimming in a flooded highway.
The post “Friend of mine out in L.A. just took this picture on the 405. And yes, all news and media outlets have permission to use this. Wild.”
Holy ‘Cow’
Quoting, Cruz wrote, “Holy cow,” seemingly falling for the fake photo.
Cruz Quickly Clarified
However, just three minutes later, the senator clarified that he had been informed of the joke, stating, “I’m told this is a joke. In L.A., you never know. And everyone please stay safe from the storm or otherwise.”
Things Went Viral
The senator’s gaffe did not go unnoticed, as social media users wasted no time mocking his initial reaction.
The Photo’s Been Used Before
Many pointed out that the image had been used as an internet meme multiple times before.
The same, edited photo had previously been shared in connection with different weather events, often localized to big cities in the United States that experienced heavy rains and flooding.
Fact Check
Numerous commenters referred to the fact-checking website Snopes, which debunked the image’s authenticity.
It Was Used in 2011
Snopes revealed that the photo had originally been circulated in 2011 after Hurricane Irene hit Puerto Rico. Since then, it has resurfaced with various false claims about its origin.
“Literally Everyone but You Knew”
“Literally everyone but you knew,” one person tweeted.
“No Way Had You Thought It Was Real at a Point”
“No way had you thought it was real at a point,“ a second person commented, as another user added, “Wow, you’re a moron.”
How Dumb Are You?
A third user wrote, “The fact that you believe this happened in California just shows how dumb you are.”
Cruz Fell for Trump Too
One Twitter user humorously wrote, “Well, when you’re inbred and skip school, this is what happens,” while another added, “Well, in his defense, he also fell for Trump – there is a precedent.”
This Has Happened Before
This isn’t the first time Cruz had a social media misstep. In 2017 Cruz’s official account had “liked” a tweet containing explicit content.
He Shifted the Blame
Cruz attributed the incident to a staff member and assured the public that it would not happen again.
The Real Weather
The latest shark tweet unfolded against the backdrop of real weather events affecting Southern California.
Intense Rainfall and Flooding Were Reported
Intense rainfall and flooding were reported as a result of the Category 4 hurricane, which eventually weakened to a tropical storm upon making landfall.
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The post “Shark Swimming in a Flooded Highway?” – Ted Cruz Faces Ridicule and Accusations of Gullibility for Sharing a Fake Image of a Shark, Believing It to Be Real first appeared on Fistful of Dollars.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / lev radin. The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.
Source: OK Magazine