Fake noose: 15 FBI agents say it was a ‘garage door-pull rope’, Internet wants NASCAR to suspend Bubba Wallace
NASCAR's only black driver, Bubba Wallace, was heavily criticized after he got his #43 Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet painted with Black Lives Matter a few weeks back. On Sunday, June 21, NASCAR said it was investigating the matter when one of Wallace's crew members reportedly found a noose hanging in his garage stall at Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama.
No sooner did the news surface on the Internet, several trolls compared it to the Jussie Smollet incident and called it a "made up a story about a racist attack". Then, a fan went viral for posting that it was a serpentine belt, misidentified as a noose. "Bubba was mistaken," he said, calling it a "publicity stunt". However, it was soon found out that his tweet was baseless and turned out to be a hoax.
After a thorough investigation by the FBI, the "noose" in the garage turned out to be a pull rope for the door that was there before, and it wasn't a hate crime. "After a thorough review of the facts and evidence surrounding this event, we have concluded that no federal crime was committed," FBI Special Agent Johnnie Sharp Jr and US attorney Jay E Town said in a statement on Tuesday. 15 FBI agents were involved in the investigation and claimed that the "noose" had been there since at least October 2019, when the stall was assigned to another team.
"The FBI learned that garage number 4, where the noose was found, was assigned to Bubba Wallace last week," the agency said in a statement. "The investigation also revealed evidence, including authentic video confirmed by NASCAR, that the noose found in garage number 4 was in that garage as early as October 2019. Although the noose is now known to have been in garage number 4 in 2019, nobody could have known Mr Wallace would be assigned to garage number 4 last week."
NASCAR issued a statement regarding the FBI's decision saying, "We appreciate the FBI's quick and thorough investigation and are thankful to learn that this was not an intentional, racist act against Bubba. We remain steadfast in our commitment to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all who love racing." Several celebrities and fans expressed their disappointment. Among them, Candace Owens tweeted, "I’m just amazed that so many people actually believed that someone left a noose in Bubba Smollet’s NASCAR garage. I mean — really people? It’s 2020, folks. Anytime someone claims an old-fashioned noose was used, there is a 99.99999% it’s a hoax."
#FakeNoose started trending and Twitter, which has been exploding with angry tweets since then. "NASCAR owes the country an explanation! The #FakeNoose was a garage door pull rope! The media has lost their minds creating fake narratives!" one read and another said, "There’s so much racism in America today that they have to keep making stuff up just to fit the narrative. I guess #ItsOkayToBeRacist if you work for the Leftist media. #FakeNoose."
"Was the #FakeNoose another attempt to stir up racism? Maybe. Is Bubba Wallace an idiot or a social justice warrior seeking attention? Maybe both. But one thing is certain. No matter how many hate hoaxes radical leftists perpetrate, their disciples will fall for them every time," one tweet read and another said, "Embarrassed much, Nascar? The only way to rectify is to fine and suspend Bubba. He duped the people for publicity. I'm done with Nascar if no punishment is forthcoming for Bubba Smollett. #FakeNoose #Hoax." One even went on to say, "It took 15 FBI agents to determine that the 'noose' was a garage pull? I guess they had a lot of spare time, it's not like the country was descending into mayhem and carnage at the same time or anything."
Bringing the Smollett comparison again, one said, "You certainly didn't endear me to you. That #FakeNoose story joins Jussie Smollett for the dubious honor of proof that demand for racism far exceeds supply," and another posted, "This newest case of #fakenoose proves the most important point. If you run around like a little b***h looking to get your fee-fees hurt and get attention you will find a way to find it. Turns out it was just a garage door rope. Way to make everything f***ing offensive. #BEREAL."
