Take a bow, blue-check journos. That viral story about someone in Richmond, VA who allegedly rescued a cat not knowing it was really a bobcat was a hoax:
it brings me no pleasure to say that the viral craigslist bobcat somebody supposedly rescued is a hoax. all the photos are taken from a bobcat instagram account (it's a great account) https://t.co/4SpVciERKd https://t.co/8nw49a7d3i pic.twitter.com/docFjmkZ0P
— Claire McNear (@clairemcnear) May 23, 2019
All the photos from the fake post came from this Instagram account of two rescued bobcats:
But this obviously fake (or at the very least, suspect) story was shared by a number of blue-check journos who should’ve known better. Some examples. . .
Christopher Ingraham, Washington Post:
Somebody in Richmond brought a wild bobcat into their home and posted it to Craigslist Lost and Found. "please if u r his owner contact me ASAP, he is CRAZY and has gotten into everything in the house in 1 night and is EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVE!!" https://t.co/bYTYGbwP7r pic.twitter.com/Y6hyjKTdDg
— Christopher Ingraham (@_cingraham) May 23, 2019
Andrew Ba Tran, Washington Post:
"please if u r his owner contact me ASAP i can not keep him here because as cute as he is, he is CRAZY and has gotten into everything in the house in 1 night and is EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVE!!” https://t.co/fr1FoBNunU pic.twitter.com/unu3pRNmGg
— Andrew Ba Tran (@abtran) May 23, 2019
Althia Raj, HuffPost:
I should be working but the internet is full of gems: https://t.co/O33jYI9atj ?
— Althia Raj (@althiaraj) May 23, 2019
Alanna Vagianos, HuffPost:
i am fucking dying ?? ?? https://t.co/P4XSDcBHVQ pic.twitter.com/wWROXjuDcn
— Alanna Vagianos (@lannadelgrey) May 23, 2019
Amanda Deibert, writer for Al Gore:
OMG HILARIOUS https://t.co/maKyoNKbY5
— Amanda Deibert ?️? (@amandadeibert) May 26, 2019
Elizabeth Lopatto, deputy editor of @Verge:
god level craigslist found cat https://t.co/6fEokrU6Yl
— Elizabeth Lopatto (@mslopatto) May 23, 2019
Michelle Pemberton, photographer Indy Star:
**UPDATE** FOUND CAT – NEED OWNERS ASAP!! https://t.co/YpThQ7TLXp
— michelle pemberton (@MichelleRocket) May 24, 2019
Miguel D’Souza, journalist:
Good hearted soul of the week is this poor chap who rescued an cat, only to find out thru responses to his lost pet ad that the snarling, angry kitty he rescued is actually a wild bobcat. https://t.co/8xca3wi02u
— Miguel D'Souza (@MiguelDSouza) May 24, 2019
Kate Hinds, editor @WNYC:
"No wonder he was so grumpy!! I kidnapped him!!" https://t.co/6UVaVaviMK
— Kate Hinds (@katehinds) May 23, 2019
Great job, everyone.
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