Snopes reviewed a story that went viral on social media recently about Colin Kaepernick. SpaceXMania published a story claiming Kaepernick “vowed” never to kneel again in hopes the NFL would take him back.
Per Alex Bruno with SpaceXMania:
“In a shocking turn of events, former NFL quarterback and now renowned civil rights activist, Colin Kaepernick, has made a desperate plea to be added back to an NFL team. And guess what? He’s vowed never to kneel during the national anthem again! That’s right, folks. It seems the man who once stood (or rather, knelt) as a symbol of resistance against racial injustice is now willing to stand tall… but only if he gets to play ball.
Held in a dimly lit room with a single spotlight on him, Kaepernick, wearing a suit that suspiciously looked like it was made from old 49ers jerseys, took to the podium. “I’ve had a change of heart,” he began, tears streaming down his face. “I promise, if any team takes me back, I’ll stand during the national anthem. Heck, I’ll even sing along if that’s what it takes!”
Related: What’s going on with the Raiders?
Bruno wrote the Cleveland Browns were considering adding Kaepernick after the alleged promise.
Snopes reveals truth on Colin Kaepernick rumor
Taja PerryCook with Snopes did fact-checking into the viral story to verify the integrity of the rumor. The story circulated to thousands of people on social media after it was published on SpaceX’s Facebook page.
Per PerryCook, the story was meant to be satirical in nature:
“This never happened; the described event was not a factual recount. The article originated with a website that describes its output as being satirical in nature, as follows:
‘Please note that the article under the category “SATIRE” are satirical in nature and are not meant to be taken seriously. These articles are meant to be humorous and are often entirely made up. We make no claim that the information presented in these articles is true or accurate.
Readers should exercise caution and use their own judgment when reading and interpreting our satirical articles. We take no responsibility for any actions taken based on the content of these articles.'”
The story didn’t appear to make sense when it was published. Kaepernick has celebrated his activism. The athletic brand Nike recently partnered with Kaepernick again for an apparel brand that is promoting his social justice causes.
Ren Kaepernick Unr 05
Making those statements to NFL owners would hurt Kaepernick’s credibility. And that credibility seems to be why Kaepernick continues to be the victim of spurious rumors on social media this fall.
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