Social media users shared posts online showing a screenshot of a Fox News broadcast discussing the ‘cancellation’ of cartoon character Lola from the Space Jam movies. The screenshot suggests that Fox News discussed this topic, while CNN, MSNBC and ABC discussed the pandemic bill. This image has been digitally altered.
Examples can be seen here and here.
The caption shown in the screenshot refers to the redesign of the character Lola from Space Jam in the movie “Space Jam: A New Legacy” in 2021, www.imdb.com/title/tt3554046/, and says that “cancel culture “changes her appearance. to be less feminine.
Lola was previously portrayed with a more revealing outfit in the 1996 Space Jam movie here.
The director of the film, Malcolm D. Lee, said here in an interview with Entertainment Weekly on March 5, 2021 that the character is “very sexualized, like Betty Boop mixed with Jessica Rabbit”. Lee explained in the interview how important it is to reflect the authenticity of ‘strong, capable female characters’ and to change Lola’s appearance so that she is feminine without being objectified, and to give her a ‘real voice’ (here ).
Canceling culture refers to the trend, often fueled by social media, in which people are rejected because of behaviors or comments that are considered offensive here.
Reuters could not find a segment or news report on Fox News with the headline shown in the claim. A Google search for the headline reveals that it only appears on meme pages and blogs. A Fox News spokesman confirmed to Reuters that the image had been processed in the claim and that such a story had not been broadcast.
It appears that the screenshot is from the February 16, 2021 episode of Tucker Carlson Tonight here, as it shows Carlson wearing the same shirt and tie.
The tweet of Zach Bornstein on March 4, 2021 appearing in these posts can be seen here . The answers below show that users are questioning the authenticity of the Carlson segment and the weather it refers to as humor (“Wait … Is this real? I do not know anymore” and “I do not even know what is real and which is not comedy) anymore.) Bornstein did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment to clarify the nature of the tweet.
The $ 1.9 billion coronavirus plan passed the Senate on March 6, 2021 (here).
The plan was passed in a 50-49 vote with the support of every Democrat but no Republicans. It is one of the largest stimulus bills in American history and one of President Biden’s first major legislative victories. The final bill contains $ 400 billion in one-time payments of $ 1,400 to many Americans, with a phasing out for those with an annual income of more than $ 75,000. It also includes $ 300 a week in extended unemployment benefits for the 9.5 million people thrown out of work in the crisis (here).
On March 4, the date of the tweet, CNN, MSNBC and ABC cover the bill (here, here and here).
Fox News also reported on the bill on March 4, examples can be seen (here and here).
In the last few days, Carlson has covered the cancellation culture in his show here and Fox News has covered the cancellation culture in other shows here, here and here.
VERDICT
Alter. The screenshot in the claim was processed to include text about the character Lola from the Space Jam movies in a Tucker Carlson segment. Fox News is also considering the coronavirus relief bill on March 4, the date the tweet was placed in these claims.
This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. Read more about our fact-checking work here.