Business

Did Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates suggest that "3 billion people need to die"? No, that's not true: The claim on social media recycles unsupported speculations from 2019 based on a distorted quote taken out of context. The story reappeared in a post on Instagram on June 9, 2023. The caption said: Does Bill Gates really want to eliminate…

Has Canada's Bill C-11 caused Canadians' social media posts to be censored, including posts about Canadian wildfires? No, that's not true: Bill C-11, also known as the Online Streaming Act, became law in Canada in April 2023. It requires that online streaming platforms contribute to Canadian content and only affects online streaming companies, not users who create content and post…

Did the grocery chain Publix stop selling Ben & Jerry's ice cream products? No, that's not true: The director of communications for Publix denied the claim and Ben & Jerry's products are still on Publix's website at the time of writing. This claim originated from a satirical website. The claim appeared in an article published by The Dunning-Kruger Times on…

Does HBO Max "suddenly" changing "their name to simply Max" mean "the company won't have to pay residuals" to screenwriters? No, that's not true: The name change from HBO Max to Max does not have any direct impact on the company's obligation to pay residuals to screenwriters or any other content creators. This is a contractual and legal obligation that…

Did Elon Musk send a tweet calling for the introduction of "Twitter News," which would be a 20-minute clip each day covering "the most relevant topics from an unbiased viewpoint"? No, that's not true: The tweet originated on a parody account but got widespread traction anyway. Many people did not notice the account wasn't the real Elon Musk. The tweet…

Did a herd of cattle in northern Italy die within a day of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine injected by the government? No, that's not true: The herd was sickened by grazing on drought-stressed sorghum, Italian public television reported. The video filmed on August 6, 2022, shows dead and dying cattle in northwestern Italy. Sorghum during drought contain high levels of…

Has Sweden registered sex as a sport? No, that's not true: The Swedish Sports Confederation denied this claim, saying it had rejected the application from an organization called the "Swedish Sex Federation" to join the nation's sports confederation. A Google News search for Sweden registering sex as a sport has not generated any reports from reputable media outlets. The claim…

Did salt water and car batteries cause a fire that spread through the motor vehicles loaded on the top on the deck of a cargo ship? Yes, that is possible: In an insurance trade magazine report, the appointed surveyor who investigated the 2016 incident on board the Baltimar Zephyr said the presumed cause of the fire was a short circuit…

Have country singers and married couple Tim McGraw and Faith Hill promoted weight loss gummies that melt weight off while one sleeps? No, that's not true: There is no evidence that McGraw and Hill have endorsed such a product. There is an ongoing online scam that uses the names and likenesses of celebrities to sell weight loss products, even if…

Did Ukraine demand Elon Musk delete Tucker Carlson's Twitter account within 72 hours, threatening consequences if the demand was not complied with? No, that's not true: the claim originated on a Russian Telegram channel known for satirical content that regularly posts fake quotes from people who are in the news. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's official website makes no mention of…

Did the American TV network ABC remove "The View" from its 2024 TV show lineup? No, that's not true: This story is from the satirical website The Dunning-Kruger Times, part of the satirical news network America's Last Line of Defense. The claim appeared in an article published by The Dunning-Kruger Times on May 28, 2023, titled "Canceled: ABC Removes 'The…

Did an artificial intelligence (AI) drone kill its operator in a U.S. Air Force simulated test? No, that's not true: Although a report of a conference stated that the Air Force conducted such a test, the official who gave the details later clarified that he "mis-spoke" and that the anecdote was a "thought experiment" rather than a real-world simulation. The…

Is Target selling clothing with satanic imagery? No, that's not true: A search for clothes depicting satanism on Target's website did not result in the images seen in the Facebook post, or any relevant images that could back up this claim. A software developer from Pennsylvania confirmed to Lead Stories that he created the images seen in the Facebook post…

Is Apeel, a company that makes an edible coating for fruits and vegetables, injecting "shots," or vaccines, into produce because Bill Gates owns the company? No, that's not true: There is no evidence that Apeel has anything to do with vaccines. Gates gave Apeel grants in 2012 and 2015, but did not found and does not own Apeel. Yahki, the…

Is Walmart required to provide a refund of $500 to consumers who shopped there in 2022, and will consumers have to answer four questions to receive this refund? No, that's not true: This post is an online scam. Lead Stories has previously debunked similar claims about Walmart issuing a store credit of $500. The senior director of national media relations…

Is presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis selling a "Make America Florida" hat? No, that's not true: This hat is not available on DeSantis' official online store. A separate shop that is not officially associated with DeSantis' campaign is selling the hat. The separate shop has a disclaimer that states the site is "Not Authorized by any Candidate or…

Did "leftist activists" loot a Target store in response to the 2023 Target boycott started by right-wingers? No, that's not true: In the tweet making that claim, the image is from 2020, three years before the protest over LGBTQ+ merchandise. The Minneapolis Target was ransacked in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd. There are multiple articles from 2020…

Did Walt Disney World remove "all American flags" and replace them with "the Pride flag" to honor lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) rights? No, that's not true: As of May 25, 2023, the Walt Disney Company had not announced such a change ahead of LGBTQ Pride Month, the annual June commemoration of the LGBTQ+ rights struggle. The claim…

Did Target sell "tuck-friendly" Pride swimsuits as children's items? No, that's not true: Those swimsuits were labeled for adults and were not available in children's sizes. The claim appeared in a post on Instagram on May 17, 2023. Its caption said: We successfully boycotted Bud Light. Now it's Target's turn. The post included a video containing shots of a label…

Did the NCAA settle with American collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines for $1.2 million and guarantee her a spot for next year? No, that's not true: This story originated from a self-described satirical website aimed at trolling conservatives. No corporate statement or credible independent reporting supports the claim. The claim appeared in an article published by The Dunning-Kruger Times on May…