Birds Aren't Real

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Billboard in Memphis, Tennessee, 2019[1]

Birds Aren't Real is a

United States government to spy on American citizens.[2][3][4][5] In 2018, journalist Rachel Roberts described Birds Aren't Real as "a joke that thousands of people are in on."[3]

Background

Poster inspired by the movement at the 35th Chaos Communication Congress conference in 2018

Peter McIndoe created the satirical conspiracy theory "on a whim" in January 2017. After seeing pro-Trump counter-protestors at the 2017 Women's March in Memphis, Tennessee, McIndoe wrote "Birds Aren't Real" on a poster and improvised a conspiracy theory amongst the counter-protestors as a "spontaneous joke". A video of McIndoe at the march went viral, which started the satirical movement.[2][6] In 2017, he posted on Facebook: "I made a satirical movement a few months ago, and people on Instagram seem to like it a lot." He later disclaimed the post, saying it was written by a staffer who was fired,[3] and did not admit until 2021 that he did not truly believe the conspiracy.[2][7]

The movement claims that all birds in the United States were exterminated by the

assassinated by the government due to his reluctance to kill all the birds.[4][8][9]

Supporters

Some supporters have demonstrated with signs stating "Birds Aren't Real" and related slogans.[3] In 2019, a billboard was erected stating "Birds Aren't Real" in Memphis, Tennessee.[1] In 2021, some supporters demonstrated in front of Twitter's San Francisco headquarters demanding that the company change its bird logo.[2] In 2021, MSNBC said that the movement had hundreds of thousands of members.[10]

Media appearances

McIndoe has made multiple media appearances and done multiple interviews promoting the Birds Aren't Real movement. In 2021, he stated that he works full-time as a spokesperson for the movement, making money from sales of merchandise.[3]

WGN9.[11][12] Adweek called it an "apparent prank"[13] and McIndoe labeled it a "hit job".[14]

In January 2022, McIndoe featured in a profile of the movement for Vice, giving his first media interview while not in character.[15] In May 2022, he was interviewed by 60 Minutes. He started off the interview in character, but later broke character and described the purpose behind creating the satirical movement: "So it's taking this concept of misinformation and almost building a little safe space to come together within it and laugh at it, rather than be scared by it. And accept the lunacy of it all and be a bird truther for a moment in time when everything's so crazy."[16][17] In April 2023 McIndoe held a TED Talk about the movement.[18]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Koch, Mitchell (July 18, 2019). "'Every tweet is a lie': Birds Aren't Real campaign spreads message with new Memphis billboard". WREG-TV. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Lorenz, Taylor (December 9, 2021). "Birds Aren't Real, or Are They? Inside A Gen Z Conspiracy Theory". The New York Times. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Palma, Bethania (November 22, 2021). "What Is the 'Birds Aren't Real' Movement?". Snopes. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  4. ^
    Nexstar Media Wire
    . Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  5. ^ Peake, Eleanor (October 12, 2021). "Birds aren't real and this man wants the world to know". New Statesman. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  6. ^ Williams, Zoe (April 14, 2022). "'The lunacy is getting more intense': how Birds Aren't Real took on the conspiracy theorists". The Guardian. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  7. ^ Omar, Elliott (January 10, 2019). "'Birds Aren't Real': Satirical movement captures social media". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  8. ^ Alfonso III, Fernando (November 16, 2018). "Are Birds Actually Government-Issued Drones? So Says a New Conspiracy Theory Making Waves (and Money)". Audubon. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  9. ^ Hauser, Alisa (November 2, 2018). "What's Up With Those 'Birds Aren't Real' Posters? They Highlight The Post-Truth Era We Live In, Creator Says". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  10. ^ Lorenz, Taylor (December 12, 2021). How the Birds Aren't Real conspiracy became a 'mass coping mechanism' for Gen Z (video). MSNBC.
  11. ^ Fish, Tom (January 7, 2022). "Man vomits live on-air during TV interview: 'I'm so nervous'". Newsweek. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  12. ^ Fasano, Stefano (January 7, 2022). "Watch: 'Birds Aren't Real' founder 'pukes' during live TV interview". The Independent. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  13. ^ Eck, Kevin (January 7, 2022). "Birds Aren't Real Conspiracy Guy Pulls Apparent Prank on WGN Morning Show". Adweek. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  14. ^ Berlin, Samantha (January 7, 2022). "'Birds Aren't Real' leader says chaotic morning news interview was 'hit job'". Newsweek. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  15. ^ "The Truth Behind 'Birds Aren't Real'". Vice. January 10, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  16. ^ "The origins of "Birds Aren't Real"". CBS News. May 1, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  17. ^ Alfonsi, Sharyn (May 1, 2022). "Parodying conspiracy theories with the Birds Aren't Real movement". CBS News. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  18. ^ "Birds Aren't Real? How a Conspiracy Takes Flight - Peter McIndoe - TED". TED. Retrieved September 14, 2023.

External links