Fake CNN headline about Damar Hamlin fools conspiracy theorists

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analysis

A screenshot of a purported CNN article claiming this NFL player Damar Hamelin‘s doctor admitted his recent cardiac arrest was related Covid vaccination goes viral among conspiracy theorists.

Of course, The headline is not real.

Hamlin, a 24-year-old Buffalo Bills player, went into cardiac arrest during a game Earlier this month after a tackle resulted in a punch to his chest.

anti-vaccination immediately seized the moment blame the vaccine like they did almost every high-profile health incident in recent years, despite no evidence indicating that the vaccine was the cause.

Only days later, a Screenshot started circulating on social media that seemed to confirm the beliefs of the conspiracy theorists.

“Damar Hamlin’s doctor confirms cardiac arrest was due to 4th booster shot,” read the alleged CNN headline.

users flooded Twitter to pat yourself on the back one more time in their own mindsbe right.

“I can’t believe they actually admitted it!!” wrote one user.

Users who promoted the tweet urged their Twitter compatriots “wake up” and fight back against the CDC and the pharmaceutical industry.

But not surprisingly The image was actually invented. A user seems to have edited the text an actual article, which was instead titled, “Damar Hamlin was discharged after spending more than a week in the hospital due to cardiac arrest.”

At least some of the anti vaccine However, users questioned whether the headline was genuine.

“Can ANYONE find this?” asked one. “I think it’s a fake.”

Hamlin’s agent had already done that denied the popular one conspiracy theory Days earlier with the claim that the athlete’s health problem is related to the vaccine.unfounded.”

As noted by US TODAYa research study from 2021 “found that cardiomyopathy, an acquired or inherited disease of the heart muscle, accounts for almost half of the cases of sudden cardiac arrest and death in collegiate and professional athletes.”

And that despite such incidents that existed before the introduction of the vaccinemany are convinced of this any heart problem in society is now directly linked to the vaccine.

But the Lack of actual evidence likely won’t stop anti-vaccinationists from blaming the vaccine for the foreseeable future.

Why it matters

This incident shows how even a grossly altered image can do Convince many online as long as it fits their worldview.

And with millions now constantly checking for news about heart problems, which they didn’t do before the vaccine, such conspiracy theories will undoubtedly spread further for years to come.

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