| USA TODAY
Unlikely couples try to bridge political divide
It’s hard to imagine a more unlikely pair – the Quaker and the QAnon follower. But two Marylanders across the political spectrum are trying to bridge the divide in their community, one issue at a time. (January 25)
AP
The claim: Grotesque images show QAnon-related scene of cannibalism
A Feb. 21 Facebook post uses disturbing images from the fictional horror film ‘Thanksgiving’ to promote unfounded QAnon conspiracy theories about a ‘deep state’ responsible for sex trafficking and cannibalism.
‘The choice to know is yours; the truth is there. WWG1WGA, ”it reads.
The vague warning and QAnon-related acronym will be accompanied by three images serving naked human bodies like turkeys on a dinner table. Two of the images show children being tied to chairs at the table.
These images are shocking, but they are not evidence of Satanism and illegal activities, as the report indicates. These images come from the set of a 2007 film preview.
One Facebook user linked the dots between the images and ‘Thanksgiving’, but more expressed disgust and support for the conspiracy theory in the comments.
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The Facebook user who posted the picture shared many QAnon-related posts over the past week. He did not respond to a request from USA TODAY for comment.
QAnon slogan ‘WWG1WGA’
“WWG1WGA” is an abbreviation of the QAnon conspiracy theory for the phrase “Where We Go One We Go All.”
QAnon is an unfounded, far-right conspiracy theory that promotes the existence of a ‘deep state’ of liberal leaders who govern the US government, media and economy. Followers believe that former president Donald Trump is now a savior who can defeat a ruling ‘cabal’ of satanic pedophiles.
In the first half of 2020, membership in QAnon social media groups increased from about 155,000 to more than a million members.
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Images from the 2007 horror film set
The images come from ‘Thanksgiving’, a trailer for a Thanksgiving-themed horror film, which was shown in the 2007 action-horror thriller ‘Grindhouse’.
“Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez pay homage to the exploitation of dual features in the ’60s and’ 70s with two back-to-back cult films featuring previews of upcoming attractions between them,” describes IMDB “Grindhouse.”
‘Thanksgiving’ was one of the previews created and displayed between these segments. It was never made into a real movie.
The play was directed by horror director Eli Roth, best known for his work in ‘Cabin Fever’, ‘Inglourious Basterds’ and ‘Hostel’.
Roth and Tarantino are known for creating films with unique extreme violence, vulgarity and dark humor.
A behind-the-scenes video of the filming of the trailer is available on YouTube. The grotesque images of the report come from the series “Thanksgiving” and are visible on the fan site The Quentin Tarantino Archives.
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USA TODAY tried to contact Roth through its entertainment company Crypt TV, but got no response.
Our rating: false
We rate reports that rate grotesque images of naked human bodies presented as food on a dinner table, with the QAnon slogan “WWG1WGA” as FALSE, based on our research. The images come from the 2007 horror film preview “Thanksgiving” and are not proof of the unfounded conspiracy theory.
Our sources for fact checking:
- USA TODAY, October 9, 2020, “Fact Check: His cousin is pictured in viral posts with Barack Obama”
- USA TODAY, FEBRUARY 4, “What is QAnon? What to know about the unfounded, far-right conspiracy theory associated with Marjorie Taylor Greene”
- USA TODAY, August 31, 2020, “How QAnon and other dark forces radicalize Americans as the COVID-19 pandemic rages and threatens elections”
- YouTube, billcompany, January 27, 2008, “THANKSGIVING” by Eli Roth
- IMDB, 6 April 2007, “Grindhouse”
- IMDB, visit on February 23 “Eli Roth”
- IMDB, 12 September 2003, “Cabin Fever”
- IMDB, 21 August 2009, “Inglorious Basterds”
- IMDB, January 6, 2006, “Hostel”
- USA TODAY, July 25, 2019, “The Best and Worst Quentin Tarantino Movies (Including ‘Once Upon A Time In Hollywood’)”
- YouTube, Rodrigo dos Santos, June 24, 2012, “The Making of ‘Thanksgiving’ Trailer”
- Visit the Quentin Tarantino archive, ‘Thanksgiving’ on 23 February.
- Crypt TV, visited on YouTube Channel 23 February
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