A bit of fake news spread like wildfire earlier today even had folks rallying to “uncancel” the leprechaun king.
While social media has been a tremendous tool for discovering news and learning about the world, its dark side occasionally rears its head, exposing how easily false reports can spread when users want to believe them. Today, we saw a prime example.
Last summer in July, the hip hop world was thrown into shambles when Houston-native Megan thee Stallion came forward and accused pint sized little rapper Tory Lanez of shooting her twice in each foot after a house party in Los Angeles. Lanez previously faced charges of one felony count each of assault with a firearm and carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle in LA County, pleading not guilty to all of the charges in September.Today, when a hip-hop fan account posited that a lack of active documents in the LA Superior Court website meant Megan Thee Stallion had “dropped her case” against Tory Lanez (which was really the State’s case, which it could pursue whether she pressed charges or not), the “report” was shared widely by Tory fans seeking vindication for their bit sized hero and villifying Megan as a liar, once again.
However, there’s just one problem: The report isn’t true and appears to be based in a lack of understand of basic tenets of journalism (as well as lack of experience with court websites, which can often take days to update). As the saying goes though, “A lie gets halfway around the world before truth puts on its boots.” Both parties eventually felt compelled to respond to the rumor, with a rep for Lanez reaching out through New York Times music reporter Joe Coscarelli, who conveyed the message via Twitter.
“The blog that posted this info is wrong,” he reported. ” I assume the docket hasn’t been updated … The next hearing date is in mid-February.”
a rep for Tory Lanez says it is NOT TRUE that charges against him in the Megan Thee Stallion shooting were dropped: “The blog that posted this info is wrong. I assume the docket hasn't been updated … The next hearing date is in mid-February.”
— Joe Coscarelli (@joecoscarelli) January 21, 2021
Meanwhile, Megan, who was again mobbed with comments by misogynistic Tory L fans, vented: “AT THIS POINT IM GETTING ANNOYED!” she wrote. “STOP BELIEVING EVERYTHING YOU READ ON THE MF INTERNET. Imagine how I feel waking every day seeing people LIE and turn my trauma into a joke? That whole team figures out ways to create doubt with my story every week and the media eats it up.”
She also pointed out the frustrating double standards that continue to be applied to her situation. “How tf I get shot now I’m the worlds biggest mf villain!?” she wondered. “Y’all so believe black women and protect black women online BUT WHEN I LITERALLY SAY I GOT SHOT ITS CONFUSING.”
AT THIS POINT IM GETTING ANNOYED ! STOP BELIEVING EVERYTHING YOU READ ON THE MF INTERNET. Imagine how I feel waking every day seeing people LIE and turn my trauma into a joke ? That whole team figures out ways to create doubt with my story every week and the media eats it up
— HOT GIRL MEG (@theestallion) January 21, 2021
Y’all can’t tell when shit fake news? Y’all still don’t see an ABUSER picking with me ? The first court date got pushed back bc of the inauguration but I can’t wait until the MF FACTS come out ! Bitch you shot me AND MY STORY NOT CHANGING AND BITCH YOU GOING TO JAIL
— HOT GIRL MEG (@theestallion) January 21, 2021
How tf I get shot now I’m the worlds biggest mf villain !? All y’all pussy ass niggas and pick me ass hoes GONE EAT YO MF WORDS
— HOT GIRL MEG (@theestallion) January 21, 2021
Y’all so believe black women and protect black women online BUT WHEN I LITERALLY SAY I GOT SHOT ITS CONFUSING
— HOT GIRL MEG (@theestallion) January 21, 2021
Hopefully, the end of the trial — whenever that is — will bring some sort of closure to this never ending saga. And hopefully, everyone has learned a lesson about which sources are trustworthy, and which aren’t worth paying any attention to at all. So for the record, the next court date for the case is set for February 25th. Also, Megan Thee Stallion does not have the power to drop any of the charges because Tory is being charged by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office.
