Pizzagate conspiracy theory: Difference between revisions
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== Spread on social media == |
== Spread on social media == |
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''[[BuzzFeed]]'' traced the start of the conspiracy theory to a [[Twitter| |
''[[BuzzFeed]]'' traced the start of the conspiracy theory to a [[Twitter|tweet]] written by an alt-right account claimed that emails found on [[Anthony Weiner]]'s laptop purportedly revealed the existence of a pedophilia ring and an initially unrelated forum post on a conspiracy theorist website, both of which were imagined to be related by Sean Adl-Tabatabai (a former associate of professional conspiracy theorist [[David Icke]]), citing a 4chan post. Adl-Tabatabai's story was then spread by and elaborated on by other [[fake news website]]s, one going so far as to claim that the NYPD had raided [[Hillary Clinton]]'s property.<ref name="BuzzFeed" /> [[PolitiFact]] investigated these claims and found no evidence for them.<ref name="PolitiFact" /> Around this time, some Twitter and 4chan users started imagining that the [[Podesta emails]] contained code words about sex trafficking.<ref name="BuzzFeed"/> Some Pizzagate believers sent death threats to the owner of Comet Ping Pong.<ref name="NYT"/><ref name="Threats">{{cite web |last=Cavanaugh |first=Darien |url=http://www.inquisitr.com/3747923/pizzagate-emails-conspiracy-theory-continue-to-draw-attention/ |title='Pizzagate' Emails, Conspiracy Theory Continue To Draw Attention |date=November 27, 2016 |work=The Inquisitr News |accessdate=28 November 2016}}</ref> Additionally, some followers of the conspiracy theory claimed that [[Kanye West]]'s hospitalization was somehow related, imagining that he was had evidence to reveal.<ref name="Kayne">{{cite web |last=Ewart |first=Alan |url=http://www.inquisitr.com/3737216/what-is-pizzagate-and-twittergate-and-why-is-kanye-west-involved-news/|title=what-is-pizzagate |work=Inquisitr |accessdate=November 25, 2016}}</ref> |
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Redditors from [[r/The_Donald|/r/The_Donald]] created the "Pizzagate" subreddit to further develop the conspiracy theory.<ref name="NYT" /> This subreddit was banned on November 23, 2016 for violating Reddit's policy against [[doxing]], as users would post the personal details of people imagined to connected to this conspiracy.<ref name="WP" /> |
Redditors from [[r/The_Donald|/r/The_Donald]] created the "Pizzagate" subreddit to further develop the conspiracy theory.<ref name="NYT" /> This subreddit was banned on November 23, 2016 for violating Reddit's policy against [[doxing]], as users would post the personal details of people imagined to connected to this conspiracy.<ref name="WP" /> |
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Revision as of 03:52, 1 December 2016
Template:New unreviewed article Pizzagate is a debunked[1][2][3][4][5] conspiracy theory started by an Alt-right Twitter account and spread by 4chan users,[6] claiming that the Podesta emails leaked by Wikileak supposedly tied a number of pizzerias and members of the Democratic party to an imaginary child-sex ring.[1][2][4][5][6]
Spread on social media
BuzzFeed traced the start of the conspiracy theory to a tweet written by an alt-right account claimed that emails found on Anthony Weiner's laptop purportedly revealed the existence of a pedophilia ring and an initially unrelated forum post on a conspiracy theorist website, both of which were imagined to be related by Sean Adl-Tabatabai (a former associate of professional conspiracy theorist David Icke), citing a 4chan post. Adl-Tabatabai's story was then spread by and elaborated on by other fake news websites, one going so far as to claim that the NYPD had raided Hillary Clinton's property.[6] PolitiFact investigated these claims and found no evidence for them.[2] Around this time, some Twitter and 4chan users started imagining that the Podesta emails contained code words about sex trafficking.[6] Some Pizzagate believers sent death threats to the owner of Comet Ping Pong.[1][7] Additionally, some followers of the conspiracy theory claimed that Kanye West's hospitalization was somehow related, imagining that he was had evidence to reveal.[8]
Redditors from /r/The_Donald created the "Pizzagate" subreddit to further develop the conspiracy theory.[1] This subreddit was banned on November 23, 2016 for violating Reddit's policy against doxing, as users would post the personal details of people imagined to connected to this conspiracy.[5]
The conspiracy theory became popular on Turkish social media and in Turkish publications after it was spread through pro-government newspapers. The Daily Dot concluded this was likely an attempt to draw attention away from actual child abuse problems within Turkey at the time.[9]
References
- ^ a b c d Kang, Cecilia (November 21, 2016). "This Pizzeria Is Not a Child-Trafficking Site". The New York Times.
- ^ a b c Emery Jr., C. Eugene (November 4, 2016). "Evidence ridiculously thin for sensational claim of huge underground Clinton sex network". PolitiFact. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
- ^ "A detailed conspiracy theory known as "Pizzagate" holds that a pedophile ring is operating out of a Clinton-linked pizzeria called Comet Ping Pong". Snopes. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
- ^ a b Washington City Paper [1]
- ^ a b c Ohlheiser, Abby (November 24, 2016). "Fearing yet another witch hunt, Reddit bans 'Pizzagate'". Washington Post. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
- ^ a b c d Silverman, Craig (November 4, 2016). "How A Completely False Claim About Hillary Clinton Went From A Conspiracy Message Board To Big Right Wing Blogs". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
- ^ Cavanaugh, Darien (November 27, 2016). "'Pizzagate' Emails, Conspiracy Theory Continue To Draw Attention". The Inquisitr News. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
- ^ Ewart, Alan. "what-is-pizzagate". Inquisitr. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
- ^ Sozeri, Efe Kerem (November 23, 2016). "How the alt-right's PizzaGate conspiracy hid real scandal in Turkey". The Daily Dot. Retrieved November 25, 2016.