No, Pfizer’s CEO Was Not Arrested

9th November 2021

Bourla announced that tests showed the COVID pill is highly effective (Getty).

The Claim

Pfizer’s Chief Executive Officer Albert Bourla was arrested for fraud and falsifying documents about the vaccine’s side effects.

News posted on

nuomnews.com

مـزمـز

CNN ARAB | أخبار العالم العربي

Emerging story

According to accounts and pages on Facebook and Twitter, Pfizer's CEO, Albert Bourla, was arrested on charges of fraud and falsification of documents detailing COVID-19's side effects. According to the allegations, Mr. Bourla is now being held in detention while federal authorities inspect his home and the properties he owns, which began to circulate online on November 5.

A supporting image within the article body

Photo Description: The screenshots show the alleged claim shared on Facebook and Twitter.

Misbar’s Analysis

The news circulating is fabricated and baseless. Since the fake news story began to circulate on November 5, Pfizer's CEO has appeared live on several TV shows hosted by CNN, CNBC, and Fox Business. Furthermore, no news of his alleged arrest has been reported since.

Bourla stated that the first pill's clinical trials had shown remarkable success in treating COVID-19 patients during his media appearances. "Today is a proud day for Pfizer," Bourla added. A day when the power of our science and our scientists' ability to rapidly advance a homegrown asset for the benefit of humankind is fully displayed."

Today is a proud day for @Pfizer. A day when the power of our science and our scientists’ ability to rapidly advance a homegrown asset for the benefit of humankind is on full display.

Here is a quick thread:
— Albert Bourla (@AlbertBourla) November 5, 2021

The Conservative Beaver, a news aggregator website based in Canada that has previously published fake news, was the first to republish the claim. The website, for example, published false information claiming that Virginia's governor had been arrested on suspicion of possessing pornographic material and cocaine. The website was also the first to publish another fake news article, claiming that an American plane crashed in the Atlantic Ocean due to a heart attack caused by the second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Translated by: Ahmed N. A. Almassri