Fact Check: The Truth About the 37 Man Buns Incident

Introduction

In recent social media buzz, a sensational claim surfaced, alleging that an individual had cut off a staggering total of 37 man buns in a single day, all while asserting that they were “doing the Lord’s work.” This eyebrow-raising story quickly gained attention and was shared widely on Facebook. However, a closer examination reveals a different narrative—one involving satire, deception, and a common phenomenon known as “stolen satire.” In this fact-check, we’ll unravel the truth behind this peculiar claim and shed light on the deceptive nature of such posts.

The Claim

The claim, as presented in a Facebook post on February 17, showcases a headline that reads: “Criminal Caught After Cutting Off 37 Man Buns In One Day, Claims He ‘Was Doing The Lord’s Work.'” The post garnered over 100 shares within a day, drawing considerable attention from social media users.

The Fact Check

Our fact-check process has revealed that the claim is, in fact, false. The entire narrative originated from a satirical article published on February 10 by “Daily News Reported.” This website prominently displays the slogan, “Not Quite Daily. Not Quite News,” on every page, indicating its satirical nature. Unfortunately, the screenshot of the article shared in the Facebook post was intentionally cropped to remove any mention of the website’s name and the satirical disclaimer.

On the “About Us” page of Daily News Reported, the site explicitly clarifies its status as a fabricated satirical newspaper and comedy website. It states, “Daily News Reported uses invented names in all its stories, except in cases when public figures are being satirized. Any other use of real names is accidental and coincidental.”

Furthermore, the mugshot featured in the satirical story is that of an individual arrested in 2017 for an entirely unrelated incident—jumping on stage during a Britney Spears concert in Las Vegas.

This incident highlights a common trend known as “stolen satire.” In such cases, fictitious claims published as satire are captured via screenshots and subsequently shared in a manner that portrays them as genuine news. This deceptive practice misleads readers and perpetuates misinformation.

Additional Sources

To further corroborate our fact check, we can refer to the original article on Daily News Reported titled “Criminal Caught After Cutting Off 37 Man Buns In One Day, Claims He ‘Was Doing The Lord’s Work,'” published on February 10. Additionally, the “About Us” page of Daily News Reported provides crucial information regarding the website’s satirical nature.

PolitiFact, a reputable fact-checking organization, also conducted a debunking of this claim, reinforcing the false nature of the story.

Conclusion

The sensational claim of an individual cutting off 37 man buns while declaring they were “doing the Lord’s work” is nothing more than a product of satirical fiction. It originally appeared on Daily News Reported, a satirical website, but was stripped of any satirical indicators in the screenshot shared on social media. This incident serves as a reminder to exercise caution and critical thinking when encountering sensational claims online, as they may not always be rooted in reality.