A few days ago, an image of what was purported to be a homophobic RSVP to a child’s birthday party went viral and ended up making headlines on the gay blogs. It was shocking, hateful aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand a complete fabrication.
According to a post on the website of K-98.3, a Long Island radio station, hosts Steve and Leeana revealed that the invite had been something the two of them created to start a “healthy discourse.” One based on lies apparently, but no, that’s cool.
“This story was, in fact, totally fictitious, and created by the two of us. This was done without the knowledge of K-98.3 management or ownership,” Steve and Leeana wrote. “We are very sorry that we perpetuated this falsehood, even after it was clear that it had taken on a ‘life of its own.’ We deeply apologize for violating your trust, and we will work hard to regain that trust.”
Look, to give credit where credit is due, they started a discourse. Not that that’s terribly difficult, because there’s nothing the internet loves more than overanalyzing things to death.
HOWEVER, they completely fucked up whatever discussion they wanted to have by lying. They undermined the cause, and they dragged attention away from shit that actually matters so that they could direct it at something they made up themselves.
They can talk about their good intentions all they want, but ultimately, they completely diverted our attention away from the important stuff so that we could all focus on nothing. That’s not a healthy discourse. That’s not even discourse. That’s theoretical outrage.