Is quarterback Jalen Hurts transfering to the Houston Cougars from the Alabama Crimson Tide where he is currently playing? No, that's not true: the "news" was published by some joker on a prank website, it is not real.
The story originated from a prank article published on April 25, 2018 on Channel 45 News titled "Jalen Hurts Departure Confirmed. - Channel 45 News" (archived here) which read in full:
The University of Houston confirms the transfer of Jalen Hurts to the Cougars. The Hurts family released a statement earlier this evening via Twitter.
The social media summary of the article looked real enough:
Jalen Hurts Departure Confirmed. - Channel 45 News
The University of Houston confirms the transfer of Jalen Hurts to the Cougars. The Hurts family released a statement earlier this evening via Twitter.
But a quick search on Twitter confirmed no such announcement was made recently, not by the Hurts family nor anyone else.
The site Channel 45 News is part of a network of prank sites operated by Korry Scherer from Milwaukee, WI. according to WHOIS data. The site lets visitors create their own realistic looking fake news stories to prank friends and family.
The site seems to be part of a network of similar sites. So far we've found these, but there may be others:
- channel22news.com
- channel23news.com
- channel24news.com
- channel28news.com
- channel33news.com
- channel34news.com
- channel40news.com
- channel45news.com
- channel46news.com
The sites all come with disclaimers at the bottom of each prank:
We do NOT support FAKE NEWS!!! This is a Prank website that is intended for Fun. Bullying, Violent Threats or posts that Violate Public Order are NOT permitted on this Website.
We wrote about channel45news.com before, here are our most recent articles that mention the site:
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- Fake News: Eminem NOT Dead at 45, NO Overdose
- Fake News: Colin Kaepernick Did NOT Sign 2 Year Deal With The Steelers For $8 Million
- Fake News: Two Killers NOT On The Loose In Wabash Indiana
- O.J. Simpson Fake News Roundup (President, Kardashians, Browns...)
