Morgan Freeman Hoax: Denies Statement About Newton School Shooting
Actor Morgan Freeman said Sunday that he did not issue a statement blaming the media for sensationalizing the Newton School shooting that left children and adults dead, according to Reuters.
He added that he never made the statement or posted it on Facebook, calling it a hoax.
The message that went viral on Saturday said the following in part:
"It's because of the way the media reports it. 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. Why a grade school? Why children? Because he'll be remembered as a horrible monster instead of a sad nobody."
The statement continues to mention Fox News and CNN by name and the way the reported on the shooting that killed 20 children, the shooter and other adults.
"Any articles or news stories yet that focus on the victims and ignore the killer's identity?" the statement read. "None that I've seen yet. Because they don't see. 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."
Freeman's publicist, Stan Rosenfield told TheWrap that the actor's team was trying to determine the origin of the hoax statement.
The shooting at the Sandy HooksElementary School in Newton, Conn. took place on Friday, Dec. 14. On Sunday, "60 Minutes" reported that the shooter, who is claimed to be Adam Lanza, 20, entered the school with three weapons by breaking a window and entering in early Friday morning. His body was found dead by authorities in one of the school's classrooms.
