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| - In late January 2024, the website Esspots.com published an article claiming Mark Wahlberg declined to co-star in a $65 million movie with Tom Hanks because he thought the latter was a "woke creep." The article read:
Breaking: Mark Wahlberg Bows Out of $65 Million Project with Tom Hanks, "What A Woke Creep"
In a move that has sent shockwaves through Hollywood, Mark Wahlberg has reportedly pulled out of a $65 million project, refusing to work alongside Tom Hanks. Wahlberg's reason? "What a woke creep." This bombshell has left the entertainment industry reeling, with insiders and fans alike scratching their heads in bewilderment.
The article was posted to the site's associated Facebook page, SpaceX Fanclub, in early February 2024, but received little attention. However, websites that repost news articles word-for-word, like Owara.info, stole the Esspots.com article, and, in August 2024, the claim resurfaced again, this time on X.
However, no part of the story was real.
SpaceX Fanclub's Facebook Intro (archived) stated: "We post SATIRE, nothing on this page is real."
Similarly, the X account that reshared the claim in August, @IvankaTrumpo, described its output as "parody," although it did not directly state the article was satirical. Finally, Esspots.com, the site where the article was first posted, was a self-described "one-stop destination for satirical news and commentary about the United States of America." The site clarified this on its "About Us" page:
Welcome to the US page of Esspots (A Subsidiary of SpaceXMania.com specializing in Satire and Parody News), your one-stop destination for satirical news and commentary about the United States of America. Our team of writers and editors is dedicated to bringing you the latest and greatest in fake news and absurdity, all with a healthy dose of humor and satire.
On this page, you can expect to find all sorts of hilarious stories and parodies about US politics, culture, and society. From outrageous conspiracy theories to outlandish political stunts, we've got it all covered.
Satire sites like Esspots regularly publish headlines replicating celebrity gossip tabloids, sometimes claiming two celebrities are, or aren't, working with each other on a project.
These claims often involve unrealistic amounts of money (like Paramount putting up $500 million for a sitcom), and a rationale for a team up (or in the case of the Wahlberg-Hanks claim, a split up) based around politics, in particular someone being "too woke." Celebrities with large public relations agencies that have had extensive media training are rarely among those who use the term.
For background, here is why we alert readers to rumors created by sources that call their output humorous or satirical.
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