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Megan Rapinoe’s X account still active, claim of Elon Musk ban is false | Fact check
Megan Rapinoe’s X account still active, claim of Elon Musk ban is false | Fact check
The claim: Elon Musk banned Megan Rapinoe from X
A Sept. 15 Facebook post claims an outspoken female athlete was banned from a popular social media platform.
“Breaking: Elon Musk Banned Megan Rapinoe From Twitter,” reads the post. “Full story in the first comment.”
It was shared more than 50 times in six days.
Our rating: False
Rapinoe’s account on X, formerly Twitter, was still up as of Sept. 21. The story in the comment below the post claims the supposed ban happened after a back-and-forth exchange between Musk and Rapinoe on X, but there are no records of any such interaction.
No evidence of any X interactions between Rapinoe, Musk
Rapinoe’s X account, a formerly verified account under the handle @MPinoe, was still accessible as of Sept. 21.
A review of archived screenshots of the account did not indicate it had recently been banned.
Though the article linked in the comments claims a ban came after an argument between Rapinoe and Musk on X, there is no evidence of any such exchange. A search of both Musk and Rapinoe’s X accounts found no posts about or to the other.
Fact check: No, CNN did not announce EU citizens no longer need to work; it’s a deep fake
Rapinoe is an outspoken advocate for various issues, including race, gender equality and LGBTQ rights. She has referred to herself as a “walking protest” and has knelt during the U.S. national anthem in protest of police brutality, as reported by CNN.
In various X posts, Musk has decried what he calls the “woke mind virus” that he claims is infiltrating institutions such as higher education and the media. He has also criticized what he described as an “anti-American self-destructive element in … elite circles within the U.S.,” Fox News reported.
Musk has banned various users since buying the social media platform in October 2022. They include journalists who tweeted or reported on Musk’s ownership of the company, comedian Kathy Griffin and Kanye West. The accounts have since been reinstated.
USA TODAY has previously debunked claims that Rapinoe stomped on an American flag, that Musk admitted to being a flat earther and that Musk intends to buy Meta.
USA TODAY reached out to the user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Our fact-check sources:
- Elon Musk, accessed Sept. 20, Xsearch
- Megan Rapinoe, accessed Sept. 20, Xsearch
- Fox News, July 29, Elon Musk shreds elites’ ‘self-destructive’ anti-American attitude: ‘We should be proud’
- CNN, Aug. 8, Trump blames Megan Rapinoe and wokeness for US Women’s World Cup exit
Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or e-newspaper here.
Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.
Unknown Gunmen attack Sunshine Stars team as players, officials sustain injuries
Sadly, the team bus of Sunshine Stars Football Club of Akure, Ondo State has been ambushed by unknown gunmen with players and several officials sustaining injuries.
In a statement, the club’s media officer, Michael Akintunde, confirmed the attack and claimed it happened on Thursday, December 7, 2023, at approximately 5:30 p.m. along the Benin-Ore expressway in Ondo State.
According to Akintunde, the attack happened when the team was on their way to honour match day 13 of the Nigeria Premier Football League match with Bendel Insurance of Benin.
He stated: “It saddens our hearts to inform Nigerians, especially football lovers that our team was attacked few minutes ago along Benin-Ore Expressway.
“The horrible incident happened to the team as they were on their way to honor an Elite League tie against Insurance of Benin, scheduled for this weekend.
“Our ball boy was shot in the horrible attack.
“Also, our team manager and other club officials including players are seriously injured.”
The Sunshine Stars official noted it took the intervention of the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) officers, who rescued and took the injured officials and the individual shot to a nearby hospital.
Akintunde called on Nigerians and football lovers to join them in prayers at “this sad and trying times” for the football club.
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I Am The Most Successful, Decorated Football Player In Nigeria Says Mikel Obi
I Am The Most Successful, Decorated Football Player In Nigeria Says Mikel Obi
I’m still Nigeria’s most successful, decorated footballer – Mikel Obi
Chelsea and Super Eagles legend, John Mikel Obi has bragged that he is “still the most successful and decorated football player in Nigeria”.
He said despite all his achievements he was never ranked number 8 in the world by the Ballon d’Or like Nigerian youngster, Victor Osimhen.
Speaking in the latest episode of his podcast, The Obi One, which had Osimhen as a guest, Mikel said the Napoli striker has raised the bar high for Nigerian footballers.
He said, “I am still the most successful and decorated football player in Nigeria. But he [Victor Osimhen] got an award that I never got. He was ranked number 8 in the world by Ballon d’Or. That’s absolutely amazing. I must say congratulations. The season you had, it was fantastic and I never got to that stage. You’ve raised the bar so high.”
Responding, Osimhen reckoned that Mikel “is more than a legend” to many Nigerian footballers, adding that the former Super Eagles captain inspired him and others on and off the pitch.
On his Ballon d’Or success, the Napoli striker said “I just kept on doing my job, doing what I love so much and God just crowned my efforts.”
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