Over the weekend, Fox News contributor Sara Carter shared a completely made-up story about a Canadian “freedom convoy” protester getting trampled by a police horse. But she was forced to retract the story after being fact-checked by Canadian authorities.
“Reports are the woman trampled by a Canadian horse patrol just died at the hospital … #Trudeau #FreedomConvoyCanada,” Carter wrote in a tweet highlighted by The Daily Beast on Friday.
Her post was immediately amplified by right-wing propagandists, including Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) who retweeted the message, writing, “This…is…horrific.”
But on Saturday morning, Carter admitted the story was false.
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“The Reports I was given earlier yesterday from sources on the ground that someone may have died at a hospital during the trampling was wrong,” Carter tweeted, adding that “someone was taken to a hospital with a heart condition – not due to trampling. I want to clarify this again and apologize for any confusion.”
The retraction forced Cruz, who was born in Canada, to rush to Twitter to delete the post.
“I deleted my retweet about a Canadian protestor being trampled to death because the journalist who first reported it now says it was in error,” Cruz tweeted Saturday. “I remain deeply concerned about the abuse—seizing money & employing violence against peaceful protesters—that we’re seeing in Canada.”
Though Cruz deleted the false tweet, Twitter users slammed him for sharing misinformation online.
Check some of the reactions below:
She's as much of a journalist as you are a capable representative of the people. It's truly loathsome to see how willing and eager you are to spread obvious weaponized disinformation to push your own agenda. You knew it was a lie when you first spread it.
— Brooke Binkowski (@brooklynmarie) February 19, 2022
Ted Cruz wasn’t concerned about police violence against peaceful protesters in 2020.
— Hockey Walrus 🇺🇸 (@hockey_walrus) February 19, 2022
Yet you were silent when Trump pulled his Bible stunt 😡
Protesters brutally dispersed ahead of Trump's photo opportunity with a Bible – videohttps://t.co/j9t0IAjOXY
— Debbie (@DebbieSVA) February 19, 2022
But not concerned about the illegal blockade?? I thought you were a law and order guy? Or is that only for groups protesting for equality & the rights of minority groups?
— James Angleton (@brlanier412) February 19, 2022
Really? Because you said the opposite about BLM protestors.
— D T stands for trouble 😉 🏳️🌈 🧘🏼♀️🌷 (@D_Elms) February 19, 2022
Do your homework. No one was killed. No abuse. No trampling. And, they were not peaceful. American money was the source of major funding. This isn’t Texas, it’s Ontario.
— K (@clarkgal) February 20, 2022
Do you worry about gun violence Texas, Ted? Why do you care about Canadians more than those who live in your own state?
— Jen Valentine – 3x💉. MJ is THE 🐐 #FlytheW (@JenValentine3) February 20, 2022
Oh, Teddy…What do you think of the law in Florida that says you can run protestors over? Where was your outrage when protestors in the US were pulled off the street and thrown into unmarked vehicles? pic.twitter.com/VPQzYgul4D
— Kelly K (She/Her) 🇺🇲 (@Kelly_K_77) February 20, 2022
It's a BLOCKADE! Not a peaceful protest.
It's meant to do harm to US & Canadian governments, economies & citizens.https://t.co/B2ImdkZMOv
— Liz Batt (@BattLiz) February 20, 2022
Can you link me to your tweets showing concern for those who have protested against violence heaped upon Black Americans? I can’t seem to find them.
— Still eating gazpacho (@JelliDonut) February 19, 2022
