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| Keanu Reeves in "The Matrix." |
FAKE-NEWS BLOGGERS are using and abusing Keanu Reeves' "coolness" factor.
Let's put to rest a quote being attributed to the popular Matrix actor. An online hoax purports to quote Reeves expressing full-throated support for Donald Trump, according to Punditfact, which gave a "Pants On Fire" rating to the totally fabricated post.
The item appears on the website supporttrumppresidency.blogspot.com, and contains a banner headline that reads: "For me, Trump is the symbol of a successful man and a role model for every young American, something that our nation was looking for for year. I don’t think that America will again have a leader like him."
The Chinese/Hawaiian/American actor has kept his political views to himself and hasn't interjected himself in any of the movements of the day, for or against Trump.
In fact, the only instance Punditfact found of Reeves discussing Trump publicly is when he appeared to criticize the president’s travel ban during a January 2017 question-and-answer with journalists at a red carpet event. Reeves, 54, told a journalist he believed the travel ban was "just terrible," according to a Jan. 31, 2017, Associated Press article.
As for the "role model" quote, Reeves' publicist confirmed the quote is fake."It is completely false," said Cheryl Maisel, of talent agency PMK-BNC. "He never made those comments nor did he ever do that interview. All manufactured."
She went on to say that the actor does not participate on any social media.
Not surprisingly, that fake attribution had a Russian connection.
"I cannot be part of a world where men dress their wives as prostitutes by showing everything that should be cherished," the lengthy diatribe began. "Where there is no concept of honor and dignity, and one can only rely on those when they say ‘I promise.’ Where women do not want children, and men don’t want a family. Where the suckers believe themselves to be successful behind the wheel of their fathers’ cars, and a father who has a little bit of power is trying to prove to you that you’re a nobody."
Facebook users flagged the post as being potentially fake, as part of the social media site’s efforts to combat fake news.
Punditfact found the quote attributed to Reeves in a Russian-language video that appears to show him saying the quote (in translated captions) — but he was actually talking about a Paul Gauguin exhibit in Switzerland.
This is not the first time Reeves has been the subject of a fake quote. The nonpartisan fact-finding website previously checked a lengthy cultural critique misattributed to Reeves, which also received a Pants on Fire rating.
Not surprisingly, that fake attribution had a Russian connection.
"I cannot be part of a world where men dress their wives as prostitutes by showing everything that should be cherished," the lengthy diatribe began. "Where there is no concept of honor and dignity, and one can only rely on those when they say ‘I promise.’ Where women do not want children, and men don’t want a family. Where the suckers believe themselves to be successful behind the wheel of their fathers’ cars, and a father who has a little bit of power is trying to prove to you that you’re a nobody."
Facebook users flagged the post as being potentially fake, as part of the social media site’s efforts to combat fake news.
Punditfact found the quote attributed to Reeves in a Russian-language video that appears to show him saying the quote (in translated captions) — but he was actually talking about a Paul Gauguin exhibit in Switzerland.
Why are the anonymous bloggers using -- to this point -- the seemingly apolitical Keanu as a poster boy to spread their lies? Your guess is as good as mine.
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