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Investigation Reveals Widespread Celebrity Diner Hoax on Social Media
A coordinated network of foreign websites and Facebook pages has been spreading a fabricated story claiming various celebrities purchased diners where they once ate during their struggling years, Lead Stories reports. The investigation uncovered 54 virtually identical narratives featuring stars like Bruce Springsteen, Cher, and Joni Mitchell, all falsely stating they now provide free meals to 120 homeless people daily.
The hoax first gained attention through a January 6 Facebook post titled “BREAKING NEWS” on a page called “Working Man’s Anthem.” The post claimed: “Bruce Springsteen has quietly purchased the small diner where he once ate on credit during the hardest years of his life — and now it serves free meals to 120 homeless people every single day.”
An examination of the page’s transparency information revealed it was being operated from both Vietnam and the United States. This Vietnam connection is particularly significant as fact-checkers have previously identified a major operation in the Southeast Asian country responsible for generating AI-created false stories.
Lead Stories conducted thorough searches in the Google News index using key phrases from the stories combined with celebrity names but found no legitimate news coverage of any such diner purchases or feeding programs. Given the prominence of celebrities like Springsteen, such philanthropic ventures would certainly have generated authentic news coverage if they were real.
The investigation discovered that the same fabricated narrative had been repurposed across dozens of social media posts, each targeting different celebrities and athletes. These posts frequently used identical photographs of an elderly woman described as the cafe owner and the same image of a restaurant dining room, despite featuring celebrities from entirely different geographical regions.
The list of celebrities falsely associated with the diner story is extensive and diverse, spanning various entertainment and sports fields. It includes country music stars like Dolly Parton, Miranda Lambert, and Morgan Wallen; athletes such as Aaron Rodgers, Travis Kelce, and Lamar Jackson; coaches like Nick Saban and Deion Sanders; and actors including Dick Van Dyke and Kevin Costner.
This pattern of false stories appears to be part of a larger trend of misinformation that fact-checkers have dubbed “Viet Spam.” Lead Stories has published guidance on identifying these types of fabricated posts, noting they typically follow similar patterns and originate from the same sources.
The proliferation of these nearly identical false narratives across different celebrity subjects demonstrates the systematic nature of this misinformation campaign. The stories are designed to generate emotional responses and engagement on social media platforms, despite having no basis in reality.
Social media users are advised to be skeptical of heartwarming celebrity stories that appear exclusively on unfamiliar websites or pages, especially when the same narrative is applied to multiple different personalities with only the names changed.
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9 Comments
This is a good example of how we need to be cautious about stories that seem too good to be true, especially when they involve celebrities. I appreciate the diligent work of the fact-checking team in uncovering the coordinated network behind this hoax.
Absolutely, fact-checking is crucial in an age of rampant misinformation. It’s concerning to see foreign actors generating these false narratives to spread on social media.
This is a concerning example of how false narratives can quickly gain traction on social media. The involvement of foreign actors in generating and spreading these fabricated stories is particularly troubling. We must remain vigilant and rely on reputable sources to stay informed.
Absolutely. Fact-checking is essential in an era where misinformation can spread like wildfire. It’s important to be critical consumers of online content and not to blindly believe or share stories, no matter how appealing they may seem.
The involvement of a Vietnamese network in perpetuating this hoax is quite telling. It highlights the global nature of the disinformation challenge we face. We must remain vigilant and rely on reputable sources to separate truth from fiction.
Agreed. This case demonstrates the need for increased scrutiny and media literacy, especially when it comes to feel-good stories that go viral. Fact-checking is an essential tool in the fight against the spread of misinformation.
Interesting, it seems this is another case of misinformation spreading online. I’m glad the fact-checkers were able to investigate and debunk this celebrity-owned diner story. Social media can be a breeding ground for fabricated tales, so it’s important to verify claims before sharing them.
While the idea of celebrities helping the homeless is heartwarming, it’s important to verify such claims before sharing them. I’m glad the Disinformation Commission took the time to investigate this story and expose it as a hoax. Maintaining a healthy skepticism is crucial in the digital age.
It’s disheartening to see such a heartwarming story turn out to be a hoax. However, I’m glad the Disinformation Commission took the time to investigate and expose the truth. We must continue to be vigilant and rely on authoritative sources to combat the proliferation of misinformation.