Meme Contains False Rupert Murdoch Quote
The Claim
Rupert Murdoch admitted to creating fake news stories about election fraud in order to boost Fox News ratings.
News posted on
Emerging story
Starting in mid April, a meme began circulating on Facebook and Instagram with apparent quotes from Rupert Murdoch, the owner of a number of news platforms including Fox News. The often talked about media baron is claimed to have stated that concern for ratings spurred election fraud claims and that "If you want real news then go to CNN.”
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar found no evidence that Rupert Murdoch ever made these statements. His mass media holdings include Fox News, 20th Century Fox Film, a 30% stake in Hulu, The Wall Street Journal, and the Daily Telegraph, and this list omits more than it includes. Murdoch is no stranger to controversy, including closing a hundred-year-old newspaper because of his company’s involvement with illegally tapping cell phones in the United Kingdom. Murdoch and his holdings continue to be involved in scandals, from sexual harassment cover-ups to fraud.
Fox News now faces two separate lawsuits from Dominion and Smartmatic, companies which provide voting software and hardware for states with contested elections, both for defamation. Fox News states that the Smartmatic lawsuit should be dismissed because they believe the rhetoric they used is supported by the First Amendment freedoms (Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press). They go on to say Smartmatic has not proven any “actual malice” in relations to their claims.
This meme reports Murdoch stated, “We created a fake story that ‘Biden stole the election.’” This admission would seal the deal on the two lawsuits—nullifying their claims that at least one should be dismissed. While some have claimed that Murdoch has operated with less than ethical standards in the past, we cannot allow a bias to believe he said these statements. Also, the lack of these statements being reported in any mainstream news, when they would surely be a top headline, supports that they were fabricated.
The final statement, that Fox News personalities are not journalists and that rival network, CNN, provides real news, is a conglomeration of truth and fantasy. In truth, even Fox's Lawyers ruled that host Tucker Carlson was unreliable, thus validating the remark, but there is no record that Murdoch made any of these statements.
