| schema:text
| - FACT CHECK: ‘If You Are Offended By Something Then Leave It Alone’ – Did Hank Williams Jr. Post This Viral Statement?
A post shared on Facebook claims country music singer Hank Williams Jr. posted a lengthy statement on social media, saying, “If you are offended by something then leave it alone.”
Verdict: False
There is no evidence Williams ever posted such a statement. Williams’ manager confirmed the claim is false.
Fact Check:
A Grammy Award-winning recording artist and the son of late Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Hank Williams, Williams is known for such songs as “A Country Boy Can Survive” and “All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight.” The Country Music Association announced on Aug. 12 that he would join the Country Music Hall of Fame as part of its class of 2020.
A post on Facebook shares a lengthy quote, purportedly from Williams, that tells people to “leave it alone” if they are offended by something. The post, which mentions statues, the book “Gone With The Wind,” the Bible and military bases, among other things, does not specify where the musician allegedly made or posted the long statement.
“You don’t like the names of military bases, but I do, so leave them alone and stay away from them,” the statement reads, in part. “You don’t like the police force, then don’t call them when you are in trouble, but leave them alone so I feel safer having them.”
“Why are the things you want so much more important than what I want?” the post continues. “Are your demands greater than my likes? Is it because you use intimidation, blackmail and force to get your way- that you do? Let’s make a deal. I will leave what you like alone and you leave what I like alone and the world will be a better place for everyone.”
But there is no evidence Williams made or posted it. An internet search by Check Your Fact found no credible report of Williams making the statement or posting it online. The statement in question also doesn’t appear on Williams’ official website, nor can it be found on his Facebook, Twitter or Instagram accounts.
“It’s a fake,” Ken Levitan, Williams’ manager, confirmed to Check Your Fact in an email. (RELATED: Does The ‘Squad’ Want The Bible To Be Deemed Hate Speech? )
Earlier iterations of the post have circulated on social media without being linked to Williams. The long statement also appears in a June 3 column written by Darrell Berkheimer in The Union, a Nevada County, California, newspaper. Berkheimer wrote in the column that the quoted statement came from an email sent to him, but he did not identify the email’s author.
|
![[RDF Data]](/fct/images/sw-rdf-blue.png)
![[cxml]](/fct/images/cxml_doc.png)
![[csv]](/fct/images/csv_doc.png)
![[text]](/fct/images/ntriples_doc.png)
![[turtle]](/fct/images/n3turtle_doc.png)
![[ld+json]](/fct/images/jsonld_doc.png)
![[rdf+json]](/fct/images/json_doc.png)
![[rdf+xml]](/fct/images/xml_doc.png)
![[atom+xml]](/fct/images/atom_doc.png)
![[html]](/fct/images/html_doc.png)