Fake News: Multimodal Writing Assignment
Introduction
After the unfortunate death of American actress and comedian Betty White, many didn’t want to face the truth of her passing. Betty Whites Hollywood journey lasted over seven decades, making her one of the first to work in front of and behind the camera. For many, coming to terms with her death 17 days before her 100th birthday, was not necessarily so easy and rose much suspicion.
Research Results
In tern the cause of Betty Whites death rose to suspicion when an image circulated across the media of White apparently stating, “Eat healthy and get all of your vaccines. I just got boosted today,” on December 28th, 2021. The image was found all across the media just three days before her passing. So, nothing about it was taken so lightly by many fans. Anti-vaxxers and political enthusiast took the so called ‘claim’ and ran with it. And further posting after her passing across the media relaying her cause of death stemming from Covid19 and the booster shot.
However, information upon the real cause of Betty Whites death was further disclosed by her agent and close friend Jeff Witjas. Witjas told reporters she passed peacefully of natural causes. White had been known of priorly dealing with a stroke only six days before her death. In which in tern arose much tension upon fans as they were all very heartbroken and shocked. On the other hand, Witjas told reporters, “I don’t think Betty ever feared passing because she always wanted to be with her most beloved husband Allen Ludden.”-NBCWashington.
Nevertheless, celebrities’ deaths tend to always come out to be very controversial. Especially, when it comes to a monumental figure like Betty White and how her passing was ever so close to her 100th birthday. As well as Covid19 being a very common cause of death within the past few years and the political and extremist views within the media and individuals all over the world. So, it is not too difficult to believe internet trolls and conspiracies in the time we currently are living in.
“I can absolutely, 100 percent say Betty did not pass because of the booster, she did not pass because of COVID, she never had COVID,”Witjas told ET. In conclusion, Betty Whites unfortunate passing was a loss for everyone not only for the past generation of individuals, but even current generation too. Her loss has truly shown how the world and social media is ever so easy to jump to assumptions and conspiracies, even in the worst of any situation.
Lee, Bruce Y. “Anti-Vaxxers Claim Betty White Died after Covid-19 Booster, Debunked by Agent.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 6 Jan. 2022, https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2022/01/05/anti-vaxxers-claim-betty-white-died-after-covid-19-booster-debunked-by-agent/?sh=596fedf34560.
1, Facebook postsstated on January, et al. “Politifact — Did Betty White Say She Got Her COVID-19 Booster Days before She Died? No, the Quote Is Fake.” @Politifact, https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2022/jan/03/facebook-posts/did-betty-white-say-she-got-her-covid-19-booster-d/.
Moore, Frazier. “Betty White, Beloved Star of ‘the Golden Girls,’ Dies at 99.” NBC4 Washington, NBC4 Washington, 1 Jan. 2022, https://www.nbcwashington.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/betty-white-beloved-star-of-the-golden-girls-dead-at-99/2923913/.