An Aussie journo has called out by Victoria Police over an unfounded story posted to Twitter, and people are meme-ing their brutal response.
In a since deleted tweet, Sophie Elsworth, a journalist for The Australian, tweeted: “Another new low in Melbourne, Australia. A mum told me today in bayside there was a police helicopter hovering over their nearby park. Kids were there kicking footballs, etc. This is beyond comprehension.”
Victoria Police, however, replied and brutally shut Elsworth’s comments down, claiming they confirmed “that there is no truth to this story” and that aside from choppers at the NSW border, helicopters aren’t being used to monitor CHO breaches.
Parents were talking about it this afternoon. Would be good to clarify what is was then.
— Sophie Elsworth (@sophieelsworth) August 17, 2021
Elworth’s claims come after using public play equipment was banned yesterday.
Of course, people immediately starting making jokes about the phantom helicopter, and the memes are gold.
Just got back from flying my helicopter over Bayside parks, what did I miss
— Patrick Stokes (@patstokes) August 17, 2021
https://twitter.com/RonniSalt/status/1427592939199369218?s=20
Maybe Sophie is really here to provide us with comic relief? This is the most I’ve laughed all day. pic.twitter.com/OHIogjA1AG
— Nic (@nicolethewestie) August 17, 2021
Some people of Twitter decided to investigate the chopper claims themselves, and what do ya know – there was actually a helicopter in the area, but… it belonged to Channel 9.
Ah, so the “OMFG POLICE HELICOPTER” “over Melbourne playgrounds” was in fact the Nine News helicopter with the big Nine News logo on the side. That’s the Walkley Award in the bag for Sophie Ellsworth. https://t.co/HZFf17IpPl
— Stilgherrian (@stilgherrian) August 17, 2021
Another day, another Aussie getting publicly humiliated online.
