Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz didn’t flip the fowl to soccer followers at a latest school recreation, a lot much less get banned from the stadium.
However some social media posts have claimed in any other case, sharing a picture of Walz leaving the sphere at Michigan Stadium, the place the Democratic vice presidential nominee watched the College of Minnesota lose to the house workforce Sept. 28.
Within the picture, which is blurry, Walz has an arm raised and a finger prolonged.
“Unpopular Tampon Tim was booed out of the stadium and banned from future video games for flipping off the followers,” a Sept. 30 Threads submit stated.
Critics began derisively calling Walz “Tampon Tim” as a result of he signed into regulation a measure that requires Minnesota public faculties present entry to menstrual merchandise in bogs frequently utilized by college students in grades 4 to 12.
This submit was flagged as a part of Meta’s efforts to fight false information and misinformation on its Information Feed. (Learn extra about our partnership with Meta, which owns Fb, Instagram and Threads.)
The submit’s picture comes from a video that’s circulated on-line for the reason that recreation, and reveals Walz strolling and waving.
Walz additionally prolonged a finger — however he’s pointing, not flipping somebody off.
The video footage isn’t crisp, however his pointing, not flipping, turns into apparent whenever you evaluate it with a picture of Walz from that very same exit that he posted Sept. 29 on Instagram.
Right here, surrounded by the identical folks, he may be seen clearly pointing.
Claims that Walz was banned from future video games, in the meantime, seem to have originated on a self-described satire website.
“Tim Walz barred from school soccer video games after boos erupt: ‘We don’t need you right here!’” the Oct. 1 headline on the satire website stated. It was clearly marked “satire.”
We discovered no different proof, corresponding to credible information tales or public statements from soccer or college officers, to corroborate the declare that Walz was banned.
We charge that declare Pants on Fireplace!