Breitbart forced to apologize for confusing jet-skiing World Cup-winner with illegal migrant
Right-wing news outlet Breitbart has apologized after it published a photograph of German footballer Lukas Podolski, claiming he was an illegal migrant traveling by jet-ski from Morocco to Spain.
The article, published on Friday and headlined ‘Spanish police crack gang moving migrants on jet-skis’, aimed to raise awareness of alleged smuggling gangs charging migrants €5,000 to be transited by jet-ski from Morocco to Spain via the Strait of Gibraltar.
Will somebody tell Steve Bannon and the other geniuses at @BreitbartNews that the guy on the picture is German soccer star Lukas Podolski pic.twitter.com/zWqoQDBg3s
— Mathieu von Rohr (@mathieuvonrohr) August 20, 2017
However, the original picture accompanying the piece showed Podolski, who won the 2014 World Cup with Germany, riding on the back of a jet-ski wearing shades and a life jacket, and giving a thumbs-up to the camera.
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Breitbart later updated the story picture, but not before more football-savvy Twitter users made the original gaffe a viral hit.
Hey @BreitbartNews, that's actually Lukas Podolski, one of the finest footballers in the world https://t.co/DwHXE7BD1spic.twitter.com/nR6aK3sTrI
— Anup Kaphle (@AnupKaphle) August 20, 2017
That's Lukas Podolski lads. I know he was criminal for Arsenal but that's a bit extreme. pic.twitter.com/hEkQ68Jg1M
— Captain Kidd (@kidd_kong78) August 20, 2017
Right wing news site Breitbart warn against migrants on jet-skis with picture of World Cup winner Lukas Podolski. pic.twitter.com/RiUXEpGaF4
— LADbible (@ladbible) August 20, 2017
The new version of the article included an editor’s note which explained the original usage of Podolski’s image and an apology was issued to the player.
“A previous version of this story included an image of Lukas Podolski on a jet ski,” the note reads.
“This image appeared as an illustration of a person on a jet ski. Breitbart London wishes to apologise to Mr. Podolski.
“There is no evidence Mr. Podolski is either a migrant gang member, nor being human trafficked [sic]. We wish Mr. Podolski well in his recently announced international retirement.”
Update: Breitbart London has updated the image and issued an apology to Podolski. pic.twitter.com/q7ewjSXhsj
— Anup Kaphle (@AnupKaphle) August 20, 2017
"There is no evidence Mr. Podolski is either a migrant gang member, nor being human trafficked."
— Gabriele Marcotti (@Marcotti) August 20, 2017
Correction is best bit of Breitbart story
Polish-born Podolski, who currently plays club football for Japanese outfit Vissel Kobe, retired from international football on August 15, having made 129 appearances and scoring 48 goals for ‘Die Mannschaft’.
