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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:
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Credit: screengrab/google 。
And people are still sharing it on Facebook: 。Credit: screengrab/facebook。
Credit: SCREENGRAB/FACEBOOK 。