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Birds Aren't Real

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Billboard in Memphis, Tennessee, 2019[1]

Birds Aren't Real is a satirical conspiracy theory which posits that birds are actually drones operated by the United States government to spy on American citizens.[2][3][4][5] In 2018, journalist Rachel Roberts described Birds Aren't Real as "a joke that thousands of people are in on".[3]

Background

Poster inspired by the movement at the 2018 35C3 conference in Leipzig, Germany

Peter McIndoe (born 1997/1998) created the satirical conspiracy "on a whim" in Memphis, Tennessee, in January 2017.[2][6] In 2017, he posted on Facebook: "I made a satirical movement a few months ago, and people on Instagram seem to like it a lot." He later disclaimed the post, saying it was written by a staffer who was fired,[3] and did not admit until 2021 that he did not truly believe the conspiracy.[2][6] The movement first attracted attention during the 2017 Women's March at the University of Arkansas, at which McIndoe and other supporters appeared carrying anti-bird signs.[3]

The movement argues that all birds in the United States were exterminated by the federal government between 1959 and 1971, and replaced by drones; the specifics of these theories as reported in news articles are not always consistent, not unlike actual conspiracy theories. They claim that birds sit on power lines to recharge themselves, and that bird poop on cars is a tracking method. The theory states that U.S. president John F. Kennedy was assassinated by the government due to his reluctance to kill all the birds.[4][7][8]

Activities

In December 2021, The New York Times featured the movement and its founder Peter McIndoe.[2]

On January 5, 2022, the US Government responded by tweeting via the US Consumer Product Safety Commission's official account, "Birds are real."[9]

On January 6, 2022, McIndoe threw up during a live TV interview with the Chicago-based WGN9.[10][11] Adweek called it an "apparent prank"[12] and McIndoe labeled it a "hit job".[13]

Supporters

Some supporters have demonstrated with signs stating "Birds Aren't Real" and related slogans.[3] In 2019 a billboard was erected stating "Birds Aren't Real" in Memphis, Tennessee.[1] McIndoe has used media bothsidesism to promote Birds Aren't Real, once saying he was offended by a question of the movement was satirical, as such a question would not be asked of the opposite opinion (that birds are real).[3] In 2021, he stated that he works full-time as a spokesperson for the movement, making money from sales of merchandise.[3] In 2021, some supporters demonstrated in front of Twitter's San Francisco headquarters demanding that the company change its bird logo.[2] MSNBC wrote that there are hundreds of thousands of members.[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Koch, Mitchell (July 18, 2019). "'Every tweet is a lie': Birds Aren't Real campaign spreads message with new Memphis billboard". WREG-TV. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e Lorenz, Taylor (December 9, 2021). "Birds Aren't Real, or Are They? Inside A Gen Z Conspiracy Theory". The New York Times. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Palma, Bethania (November 22, 2021). "What Is the 'Birds Aren't Real' Movement?". Snopes. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Macy, Ivie; Lin, Frances (June 25, 2021). "'Birds Aren't Real' rolling rally makes first stop in Missouri". WGN-TV. Nexstar Media Wire. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  5. ^ Peake, Eleanor (October 12, 2021). "Birds aren't real and this man wants the world to know". New Statesman. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  6. ^ a b Omar, Elliott (January 10, 2019). "'Birds Aren't Real': Satirical movement captures social media". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  7. ^ Alfonso III, Fernando (November 16, 2018). "Are Birds Actually Government-Issued Drones? So Says a New Conspiracy Theory Making Waves (and Money)". Audubon. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  8. ^ Hauser, Alisa (November 2, 2018). "What's Up With Those 'Birds Aren't Real' Posters? They Highlight The Post-Truth Era We Live In, Creator Says". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  9. ^ Smith, Hannah (January 9, 2022). "Birds Are Real, US Government Confirms After Drone Meme Confusion". Unilad. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  10. ^ Fish, Tom (January 7, 2022). "Man vomits live on-air during TV interview: 'I'm so nervous'". Newsweek. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  11. ^ Fasano, Stefano (January 7, 2022). "Watch: 'Birds Aren't Real' founder 'pukes' during live TV interview". The Independent. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  12. ^ Eck, Kevin (January 7, 2022). "Birds Aren't Real Conspiracy Guy Pulls Apparent Prank on WGN Morning Show". Adweek. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  13. ^ Berlin, Samantha (January 7, 2022). "'Birds Aren't Real' leader says chaotic morning news interview was 'hit job'". Newsweek. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  14. ^ "How the Birds Aren't Real conspiracy became a 'mass coping mechanism' for Gen Z". MSNBC. December 12, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2021.

External links

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