Morgan Freeman cleared up the internet hoax that “quoted” the actor blaming the media for the Connecticut elementary school shooting.
People have had a lot to say about the Newtown elementary school massacre, from demanding better gun laws to wanting more security at schools.
In the midst of the national discussions after the tragedy, a quote surfaced on Reddit that was supposedly from the “Last Vegas” actor and had everyone scratching their heads in confusion at the insensitive comment.
“It’s because the way the media reports it,” the Morgan Freeman hoax quote read. “Turn on the news and see how we treat the Batman theater shooter and the Oregon mall shooter like celebrities. Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris are household names, but do you know the name of a single ‘victim’ of Columbine? Disturbed people who would otherwise just off themselves in their basement see the news and want to top it by doing something worse and going out in a memorable way.”
The quote went on to suggest that the school shooter specifically picked elementary school children because it made him a “monster.”
“Why a grade school? Why children? Because he’ll be remembered as a horrible monster instead of a sad nobody,” the fake Freeman quote continued. “So congratulations, sensationalist media, you’ve just lit the fire for someone to top this and knock off a day care center or maternity ward next.”
The quote even criticized the idea that gun control had anything to do with causing the Connecticut shooting.
“You can help by donating to mental health research instead of pointing to gun control as the problem,” the Freeman hoax suggested. “You can help by turning off the news.”
Although nobody has confirmed where the quote originated from, Reddit users believe they have found the answer.
A Facebook profile belonging to a man named Mark in Vancouver had a post almost identical to the Freeman hoax quote.
Just a few minutes after posting the quote, Mark even commented on his own status saying, “If I know the Internet, someone will attribute the quote to Morgan Freeman or Betty White and it’ll go viral.”
Needless to say he was a little late with his prediction and after catching the hoax being featured in several articles online he posted another status in shock after discovering the quote had indeed been credited to the outspoken 75-year-old.
“…IT’S ALREADY HAPPENING,” he added.
Regardless of where the quote came from, Morgan’s rep insists that it did not come from him, despite how well written it was.
