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Fake news is like a horrible weed: just when you think you've eradicated it, another pops up somewhere else. 。
SEE ALSO:'Fake news' isn't just a U.S. problem — it's everywhere 。The website YourNewsWire published a totally made-up story about actor Keanu Reeves, who allegedly said in Milan that Hollywood elites use "the blood of babies to get high".。
The story went viral on Facebook with 26,000 engagements. It was posted on the verified 。 The story went viral on Facebook with 26,000 engagements. It was posted on the verified 。Your News Wire 。 and related 。The People's Voice。 pages, as noticed by 。 Media Matters 。
researcher Alex Kaplan: 。
Tweet may have been deleted 。
Tweet may have been deleted 。
The story is also currently at the top of search on YouTube if you type in "Keanu Reeves": 。Credit: screengrab/youtube 。 YourNewsWire 。
By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. 。 Thanks for signing up! 。 Fact-checking website 。 Politifact 。 debunked the story saying none of the details included in the 。
YourNewsWire 。 article "have been confirmed by law enforcement agencies, or reported by reputable media outlets." 。The same happened with the Keanu Reeves story, which was debunked by the website 。
GossipCop 。 , another site dedicated to separating fact from fiction in entertainment news. 。 While it's true that Reeves was recently at a motorcycle event in Milan, "he never gave this alleged interview to anyone" and "his supposed remarks can’t be found anywhere on the Internet, except for on YourNewsWire," 。
GossipCop 。 GossipCop 。 reports. 。
After the fact-checkers did their job,
YourNewsWire
。changed the URL and content of the story into an absurd claim about actor Elijah Wood that Hollywood is gripped by a paedophile ring. 。
But a cached version of the story is still available: 。Credit: screengrab/yournewswire.com。
The Facebook posts have also been deleted, but that hasn't stopped other, dodgy websites from publishing the same story as a Google search shows: 。
Credit: screengrab/google 。
And people are still sharing it on Facebook: 。Credit: screengrab/facebook 。
Credit: SCREENGRAB/FACEBOOK 。