"Heartwarming" Headline Parodies

"Heartwarming" Headline Parodies

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Updated Apr 13, 2023 at 04:28AM EDT by Philipp.

Added Feb 11, 2021 at 08:05AM EST by Philipp.

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About

"Heartwarming" Headline Parodies refers to a series of posts parodying news headlines which present various grim situations as "heartwarming." The trend gained popularity on Twitter following a news article about a Texas teen who gave up her college savings to pay her family's rent in order to prevent eviction.

Origin

On February 9th, 2021, ABC7 News[1] posted a news article about Texas student Alondra Carmona who gave up her college savings in order to help pay for her mother's rent and prevent her from being evicted. On the same day, ABC7 News tweeted[2] the article, with the post gaining over 3,900 retweets and 14,900 likes in two days (tweet shown below).


ABC7 News abc @abc7newsbayarea BAY AREA Texas teen Alondra Carmona is giving up her entire college savings to help pay for her mom's rent and prevent her being evicted. abc7ne.ws/36XweFg Arnan CREDIT: GOFUNDME 1:20 PM · Feb 9, 2021 · True Anthem

Within two hours since ABC7 News tweeted the article, Twitter[3] user @ALBDamn quote retweeted the post, writing, "Not heartwarming. This is a horror story." The tweet received over 25,800 retweets and 100,300 likes in two days (shown below).


Al B Where the Money Reside ... @ALBDamn Not heartwarming. This is a horror story. ® ABC7 News @abc7newsbayarea · Feb 9 Texas teen Alondra Carmona is giving up her entire college savings to help pay for her mom's rent and prevent her being evicted. abc7ne.ws/36XweFg Ana CREDIT: GOFUNDME 2:29 PM · Feb 9, 2021 · Twitter for Android

Spread

On the same day, more Twitter[4][5] users wrote that the story was grim and tragic rather than heartwarming (examples shown below).


Vincent Martella @VinMan17 she shouldn't have to choose this isn't heartwarming this is tragic O ABC7 News @abc7newsbayarea · Feb 9 Texas teen Alondra Carmona is giving up her entire college savings to help pay for her mom's rent and prevent her being evicted. abc7ne.ws/36XweFg Ana CREDIT: GOFUNDME 6:10 PM · Feb 9, 2021 · Twitter for iPhone Shaun ... @shaun_vids Heartwarming: O ABC7 News @abc7newsbayarea · Feb 9 Texas teen Alondra Carmona is giving up her entire college savings to help pay for her mom's rent and prevent her being evicted. abc7ne.ws/36XweFg Ava CREDIT: GOFUNDME 6:25 PM · Feb 9, 2021 · Twitter Web App Josh Wingrove O @josh_wingrove ... It will never not be weird to me that these are framed as heartwarming stories rather than total system failures. ABC7 News @abc7newsbayarea · Feb 9 Texas teen Alondra Carmona is giving up her entire college savings to help pay for her mom's rent and prevent her being evicted. abc7ne.ws/36XweFg Arvan CREDIT: GOFUNDME 7:45 AM · Feb 10, 2021 · Twitter Web App

Later on February 9th, Twitter[6] user @JordanUhl tweeted a made-up headline which presented a grim story as heartwarming (shown below). The tweet received over 14,100 retweets and 167,700 likes in two days.


jordan @JordanUhl ... HEARTWARMING: Local 9-year-old starts driving for Uber to pay for his mom's cancer treatment 6:42 PM · Feb 9, 2021 · Twitter Web App

Starting on February 9th, more Twitter users made similar posts, often referencing popular TV series and films such as Breaking Bad. For example, on that day, Twitter[7] user @ChrisRGun posted a tweet that received over 13,900 retweets and 83,500 likes in two days.

Orphan-Crushing Machine

Orphan-Crushing Machine is a metaphor for "heartwarming" news stories about someone remedying the immediate effects of a sociopolitical issue which ignore the root cause of said issue. The metaphor satirizes these stories through comparing them to a story of a person raising money to keep 200 orphans from being crushed where nobody questions why an orphan-crushing machine exists in the first place.


Anosognosiogenesis @pookleblinky Every heartwarming human interest story in america is like "he raised $20,000 to keep 200 orphans from being crushed in the orphan- crushing machine" and then never asks why an orphan-crushing machine exists or why you'd need to pay to prevent it from being used. 10:56 PM. Sep 24, 2020

Various Examples


Chris Ray Gun E @ChrisRGun ... HEARTWARMING: Chemistry teacher turns to meth dealing to pay for cripplingly expensive chemotherapy. 9:49 PM · Feb 9, 2021 · Twitter for iPhone Mr. Nice Voice ... @MisterNiceVoice Replying to @ChrisRGun HEARTWARMING: Latino chicken restaurant chain owner/philanthropist employs cancer-ridden chemistry teacher and donates to his surgery fund. GIF 12:08 AM · Feb 10, 2021 · Twitter for Android Existential Comics @existentialcoms HEARTWARMING: after losing her job, mother refuses to give up and sells her hair to pay for her child's medication. 4:01 PM · Feb 10, 2021 · Twitter Web App
Ken Klippenstein @kenklippenstein ... HEARTWARMING: Children use neighbor's WiFi to help family make ends meet 4:40 PM · Feb 10, 2021 · Twitter Web App Ken Klippenstein @kenklippenstein ... HEARTWARMING: Girl goes without EpiPen to save up for college 5:02 PM · Feb 10, 2021 · Twitter Web App PSuspected of Socialist Activity @S_LoreneCarol ... HEARTWARMING: Couple wins gameshow and lifts families out of poverty! 9:20 PM · Feb 10, 2021 · Twitter Web App

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