![reddit wTFI comments Lrelated READ THE RULES. No Screenshots! In Louisville, Kentucky last night, the people decided to have a "Purge." Someone released a giraffe from the zoo. (i.imgur.com) 195 submitted 3 hours ago by sorted by: top ▼ you are viewing a single comment's thread 67 comments share save hide glve gold report view the rest of the comments → 43 points 2 hours ago you sure this was in Kentucky? you might want to scroll down a bit permalink save report give gold reply ↑ [-]- 12 points an hour ago Pic 18 taken in January in LA, op you bullshiter permalink save parent report give gold reply [-] " .. . 5points an hour ago op is a phony permalink save parent report give gold reply 3 points 40 minutes ago op-f----- permalink save parent report give gold reply [-] 8 points 2 hours ago r/quityourbullshit permalink save parent report give gold reply 2 polnts an hour ago /r/opisafaggot permalink save parent report give gold reply 1 point 53 minutes ago DM;GK: doesn't matter, got karma permalink save parent report give gold reply](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/list/000/813/270/343.jpg "343.jpg")
The "Louisville Purge" Hoax
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About
Louisville Purge Hoax refers to a practical joke orchestrated by a Louisville, Kentucky teenager who disseminated a false rumor via Twitter announcing the observance of a free-for-all, violent purge across the city for 10 hours and 30 minutes on the Friday night of August 15th, 2014. The "purge" scare was subsequently debunked as a hoax inspired by the plot of the 2013 horror film The Purge.
Origin
On August 10th, 2014, an unnamed teenager posted a tweet asking who would assist him in starting a "Louisville Purge" (shown below).
Spread
Online Reaction
On August 15th, 2014, Twitter[1] user Jeremy Daugherty tweeted a photoshopped promotional poster for the film The Purge advertising the hoax event, claiming that the placards had been hung up around Louisville (shown below).
The same day, Redditor mbritt74 submitted a post titled "Louisville Purge megathread" to the /r/Louisville[5] subreddit for discussions and updates related to the purge. A page was subsequently created on the hoax database website Snopes,[6] labeling the rumor as "false."
Interview
Also on August 15th, the manualredeye SoundCloud feed posted an audio interview with the student responsible for starting the rumor, who claimed that is was supposed to be "just a joke" and that he had been kicked off the football team for the hoax (shown below).
News Media Coverage
Later that night, Thought Catalog[2] published a live blog of the evening, including reports of increased police scanner activity, explosions and shots being fired. The following day, Gawker[3] published an article about the hoax, referring to the Thought Catalog piece as a "fictional account." In the coming days, additional news sites reported on the incident, including NY Daily News,[7] BBC News,[8] Time,[9] People,[10] E! Online[11] and UpRoxx.[12] According to the Cincinanati, Ohio news station WLWT,[4] rumors of other hoaxes subsequently spread to Detroit, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Miami and Cleave.
Search Interest
External References
[1] Twitter – These posters were hung up all over Louisville
[2] Thought Catalog – Louisville Purge May Actually Be Happening
[3] Gawker – Louisville Teen Starts Hoax on Twitter
[4] WLWT – Louisville 'Purge threats reschedule football game, increase police patrols
[5] Reddit – Louisville Purge Megathread
[7] NY Daily News – Teen prankster starter Louisville Purge hoax
[8] BBC News – #BBCtrending – The Louisville Purge Hoax
[9] Time – Louisville Purge Fails to Materialize
[10] People – Louisville Purge Fails to Materialize
[11] E! Online – Louisville Purge Hoax Threat
Recent Videos
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Top Comments
Deathseller
Aug 18, 2014 at 09:47PM EDT
Dragirby (Discord & Goat Dad's Waifu)
Aug 18, 2014 at 09:01PM EDT