Following the backlash the Paris Olympics received after its Opening Ceremony, rumors swirled across the internet that tech giant Samsung had pulled out its colossal $1 billion dollar ad campaign from the global sporting event. But is it actually true?
The claim originated in a satirical website known as Esspots on July 28th, which published an article that stated:
“The decision comes in response to what the company describes as the Olympics’ increasingly “woke” agenda, a stance that has stirred significant debate within both corporate and sporting worlds.”
Soon after, a post on Threads stated: “Breaking: Samsung Drops Out of $1 Billion Advertising Campaign with Olympics, ‘They’ve Gone Woke.’ Its archive can be seen here.
Both posts soon went viral across social media and provoked an explosive reaction, with many internet users either praising or rebuking Samsung for the decision.
However, this claim is not true: Samsung is not withdrawing from its partnership with Olympics. No official announcement regarding the same has been issued by the company. Samsung is still listed as part of The Olympic Partner (TOP) program, the “highest level” of Olympic partnership, according to the IOC website.
Additionally, a quick look at the alleged “sources” for this claim can disprove their narratives. Esspots is a satirical site, and their Disclaimer section highlights that the website is known for publishing fabricated stories. In their “About Us” section, they wrote:
“Our team of writers and editors is dedicated to bringing you the latest and greatest in fake news and absurdity, all with a healthy dose of humor and satire.”
Similarly, the post on Threads carried a satire label on its top left corner, but many users do not appear to have noticed either.
This incident demonstrates the growing need for internet users to fact-check their information before spreading false or misleading claims that could potentially cause frustration among many for nothing.
