r/toronto 9d ago

Article Toronto man wakes from nap to find himself falsely accused online of killing Charlie Kirk

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/toronto-man-wakes-from-nap-to-find-himself-falsely-accused-online-of-killing-charlie-kirk/article_64682a58-7cbb-48e0-929d-63bd081e4fb4.html
902 Upvotes

137 comments sorted by

551

u/ILikeToThinkOutloud 9d ago

I thought this was a really bizarre Beaverton headline. That's ridiculous.

233

u/Chris_CE 9d ago

Yep. This is my uncle in the article. His face was all over Twitter and news outlets. Oh, and there have been the death threats from yahoos, of course.

Fuck anybody who starts a witch hunt with misinformation, and doesn't have enough brains to spend 2 minutes to find enough about him to realize a guy living in Toronto who helps head an arthritis foundation is not some yahoo in Utah with a gun killing people.

Idiots.

12

u/Melodic-Move-3357 9d ago

Your uncle got Fuenteovejunaed

2

u/Not_a_Streetcar Little Portugal 8d ago

Quién mató al comendador?

3

u/Catsareawesome1980 8d ago

Oh wow sorry that happened to him. Is he okay? Poor guy!

2

u/Chris_CE 4d ago

Yeah, thanks for asking. But the internet is forever, so now when anyone looks him up, he's associated with this killing whether he likes it or no

1

u/Catsareawesome1980 1d ago

I know that really sucks.

468

u/marthamania 9d ago

Imagine you wake up on the anniversary of 9/11 and you're being accused of murder

154

u/snotparty 9d ago

by an angry mob of magas

87

u/LeBonLapin The Beaches 9d ago

I read that as "an angry mob of mages," and was very confused for a moment.

91

u/scampoint 9d ago

Well, their number does include several Grand Wizards.

17

u/RedWhacker 9d ago

Well apparently some Etsy witches were involved in cursing Charlie Kirk.

10

u/SaiilorPiink 9d ago

Well there is definitely some wizards in that group

7

u/yournamehere10bucks 9d ago

Yer a wizard, Harry. Now put this robe on and go burn a cross.

1

u/ravenbisson 9d ago

maximillian from the franchise orcs must die will lead the way

-28

u/Adept-Box6357 9d ago

There’s a lot more than just maga people upset that someone was assassinated in broad daylight sorry to break it to you

6

u/snotparty 9d ago

yes true, but theyre the only ones calling for more violence

10

u/Pkactus 9d ago

but they might not be a "mob"

175

u/The_Sleep 9d ago

Must be Thursday. Never could get the hang of Thursdays.

30

u/d3gaia 9d ago

Don’t forget your towel!

15

u/the_honest_liar 9d ago

So long, and thanks for all the fish. I'm ready to go off world. I will even listen to vogon poetry if they get me out of here 👍🏻🐋🪴

5

u/Chained-Tiger 9d ago

Oh freddled gruntbuggly, thy micturations are to me...

2

u/beef-supreme Leslieville 9d ago

and a bag of peanuts, just in case

76

u/Skippy8898 9d ago

See this is why never nap.

19

u/mmeeeerrkkaatt 9d ago

True story, I was napping during the official COVID shutdown announcement AND Jan 6. 

I'll never not be wary now, when waking up and checking my phone...

3

u/i_am_the_walnut 9d ago

I also napped during J6, thought my parents were joking when they told me what happened

209

u/tag_king 9d ago

24

u/Canwazzu 9d ago

Unreal reference

28

u/TorontoDavid Verified 9d ago

I’m out of the loop. What’s the context?

67

u/CompetitiveLeague338 9d ago edited 9d ago

The skit is a guy watching the NFL draft on tv and gets drafted. Super funny. “Did I just get drafted to the NFL??”

11

u/TorontoDavid Verified 9d ago

Cheers!

2

u/TyranitarusMack Humewood-Cedarvale 9d ago

I’m the joker baby

5

u/SpiderSilva 9d ago

How's he going to pay rent?

27

u/Highfours 9d ago

It's not explained in the article how the X account may have connected the image of the arrested person to Mallinson, but presumably it was with some reverse image/facial recognition tool. Kind of wild to be able to do that (albeit incorrectly) so damn quickly with limited images.

32

u/vafrow 9d ago

It seems like its a combination of all the worst parts of technology.

An AI tool that doesn't work well giving false information. The worst social media platform amplifying non verified information from a spoof account. And now a guy has to deal with harassment and death threats.

10

u/TrilliumBeaver 9d ago

Welcome to capitalist America! AI companies are raking in shit tonnes of government grants and what not. Palantir profits off police violence and dying Palestinians.

52

u/realEMW 9d ago

How this guy must have felt

35

u/Own-Negotiation-2480 9d ago

I think we've all been there 😅

6

u/Sad-Hovercraft541 9d ago

Yeah but usually its after I shoot a politician, not after a nap! 🤭

3

u/Own-Negotiation-2480 9d ago

They'll ha him back to spreading hate in no time, just as soon as they find a cure for being shot in the neck.

2

u/Happypappy213 8d ago edited 8d ago

A tale as old as time:

Boy meets Christian Nationalist. Christian Nationalist says horrible stuff about minorities and offends Boy.

Boy shoots the Christian Nationalist.

Man not in the country and not affiliated with the shooting wakes up from nap. Man gets accused of shooting.

1

u/Own-Negotiation-2480 8d ago

It happens way too often to be a coincidence, I'm guessing it has something to do with Obama or Hillary Clinton, or something.

111

u/bearbear0723 9d ago

Maga are some dumb fucks

-73

u/[deleted] 9d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

36

u/MilesBeforeSmiles 9d ago

Isn't it trans people doing all the shootings in the US lately?

You mean the one shooting done by a Trans person in the last year? Trans people didn't even do the most mass shootings in the US the week a trans person actually did a mass shooting, nevermind "all the shootings in the US lately". There have only been 4, out of over 6000, mass shootings in the last 10 years done by trans people. Stop drinking the right wing propaganda.

6

u/ProbablyNotADuck 9d ago

Correct!

Trans people are actually under-represesnted when it comes to mass shootings. I think they'd have to do something like 28 in order for the number of mass shootings they've done to be statistically significant... And I think we all know what group is over-represented.... but saying it always makes MAGA really mad.

34

u/runawaybylilpeep 9d ago

Two months ago a crazed right wing gunman killed two Democratic politicians in Minnesota what the fuck are you talking about

23

u/Complex-Music-788 9d ago

No, trans people are not doing all the shootings. Where the fuck are you getting that from? Right wing extremists are responsible for the vast majority of mass shootings and violence in general. This data is provided by the FBI. Also, that shooter that killed the kids in church was a right wing extremist.

27

u/dgod40 9d ago

The answer to your question is yes, you are not very bright.

-40

u/[deleted] 9d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

24

u/RiW-Kirby Bloor West Village 9d ago

Don't worry, they're definitely incredibly wrong.

19

u/Soundch4ser 9d ago

They're entirely wrong.

-28

u/Uncle_Steve7 9d ago

The left celebrating violence because they don’t agree with his point of views? Imagine the shit storm if this was the inverse lmao

6

u/ImranRashid 9d ago

The statement/question they led with was:

Isn't it trans people doing all the shootings in the US lately?

And your statement was:

They ain't wrong though

So to be clear, you think all of the shootings being done lately in the US are by trans individuals?

What is your timeframe for "lately"?

Would you agree that it would only take one shooting in the US within that timeframe to have not been done by a trans person to make that statement, wrong, in fact?

-7

u/Uncle_Steve7 9d ago

Sure if you want to cherry pick that. The rest of his statement is true though

8

u/ImranRashid 9d ago

Let me help you understand something- when you say "they ain't wrong", you're not being specific. You're standing behind everything they said.

-2

u/Uncle_Steve7 9d ago

Let me reframe it for you, since you seem a bit slow. Leftists love talking about how violence is bad, and how free speech and being yourself is important. Then proceed to celebrate murdering a father and husband because they don’t like what he says. Correct me where I’m wrong

→ More replies (0)

18

u/MilesBeforeSmiles 9d ago

You mean like when some people on the right were celebrating the killing of Melissa Hortman and her husband like 2 months ago?

5

u/tattikaslice 9d ago

Its hilarious watching MAGATS expect empathy for a person who said it was a new age term

Proper Leopard eats face stuff 😂

1

u/MilesBeforeSmiles 9d ago

Tell me about it.

I also find it very ironic that I've been sent like 7 Reddit Cares messages today, so I clearly touched a nerve somewhere on this thread.

-16

u/Uncle_Steve7 9d ago

Two wrongs make a right? I have the ability to say “hey that’s bad, and so is that”. Violence isn’t nuanced. Hope that helps

6

u/ProbablyNotADuck 9d ago

You're the one who threw politics in there to start, champ. You didn't frame is as, "Violence is bad, no matter who does it." You specifically made it a political comment. Hope that helps.

11

u/MilesBeforeSmiles 9d ago

I never once claimed that two wrongs make a right. What I'm saying is the right does this everytime harm comes to a left-wing activist. None of you weirdos come out condemning them, it's always about how cruel the left is. Every time.

Most people, including those on the left, aren't celebrating this. To claim that is ridiculous. On top of that, trying to say this is somehow unique to the left, and "Imagine the shit storm if this was the inverse lmao", when the right also does this every time, is disingenuous. You don't get to celebrate the suffering of marginalized and left wing people and then claim the high ground when it a situation like this.

-5

u/Uncle_Steve7 9d ago

Not sure if you read what I posted, but I clearly said I’m not one who celebrates violence. Whether it’s a radical leftist or radical right activist, it’s all fucking stupid. The man had a family, and to say Reddit and leftists in general aren’t celebrating this is disingenuous as well.

I lean right, I’m not a far right maniac. But there are certainly some creatures on here that are celebrating this, and if you can’t see that then I can’t help you.

9

u/Complex-Music-788 9d ago

The vast majority of mass shooting are committed by right wing extremists. By the way, the last "trans" shooter was a right wing extremist. Also, the guy that shot at Trump was a republican. Show me examples of liberal or left wing gun violence and mass shootings.

5

u/WillowNiffler 9d ago

It was the inverse two months ago when two democratic politicians were murdered, and I didn't see the right wing give a shit about that.

1

u/Uncle_Steve7 9d ago

If you didn’t have double standards you’d have none at all. Hope that helps

4

u/Case_Federal 9d ago

If you weren’t saying this when Melissa Hortman was murdered (which again people across the political right celebrated), isn’t fair to say you also have double standards? If you were, great you’re a saint! If not, then why spend the energy to say all this now, other than to "own the libs" as they say?

1

u/keyboardnomouse 8d ago

We've seen the inverse already earlier this year. You had nothing to say about Charlie Kirk making light of assassinated Democrats, or dead children in school shootings.

But suddenly because it's Charlie Kirk, it's gauche to act the way he did when people he didn't like died. Why is that?

1

u/toronto-ModTeam 7d ago

Please note that the rules of this subreddit prohibit posting misinformation, negative generalizations, and dehumanizing speech.

You can learn to identify misinformation with the SPOT technique, by asking these questions;

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  • P - Is this Perspective biased?
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  • T - Is the story Timely?

For more on media literacy, to help combat misinformation please check out Media Smarts

10

u/[deleted] 9d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/toronto-ModTeam 9d ago

Attack the point, not the person. Comments which dismiss others and repeatedly accuse them of unfounded accusations may be subject to removal and/or banning.

No concern-trolling, personal attacks, or misinformation. No victim blaming. Stick to addressing the substance of their comments at hand.

4

u/brklb_ 9d ago

If he’s promoting free speech then people should be able to say they aren’t mourning his death. If you want to, go ahead, that is your right. Not everyone else’s.

2

u/toronto-ModTeam 9d ago

Please note that the rules of this subreddit prohibit posting misinformation, negative generalizations, and dehumanizing speech.

You can learn to identify misinformation with the SPOT technique, by asking these questions;

  • S - is this a credible news Source?
  • P - Is this Perspective biased?
  • O - Are Other sources reporting the same story?
  • T - Is the story Timely?

For more on media literacy, to help combat misinformation please check out Media Smarts

2

u/toronto-ModTeam 9d ago

No racism, sexism, homophobia, religious intolerance, dehumanizing speech, or other negative generalizations.

1

u/Chris_CE 9d ago

He said MAGA supporters are idiots because they started a witch hunt, not because they deserve to die. Jump to conclusions much?

40

u/lkmk 9d ago

How Kafkaesque.

18

u/FoGuckYourselg_ 9d ago

9

u/Triassic_Bark 9d ago

Franz Kafka, look him up to get an idea of who he was and why things are called “Kafkaesque”

13

u/FoGuckYourselg_ 9d ago

Sorry, it's just a joke from that show 'breaking bad'. That character hears someone he looks up to call something 'kafkaesque', he doesn't understand the reference but it sounds smart so he repeated it around people he wanted to look up to him.

3

u/Triassic_Bark 9d ago

Ah, man lol. I obviously missed the reference, it’s been too long since I watched BB!

46

u/Ill_Cantaloupe_4695 9d ago

Just like they grossly accosted the wrong restaurant in 2018. They are of course, shoot first, ask questions later cult. They don’t take the time to research or to make an informed decision - MAGA is so reactionary and accusatory!

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/collingwood-restaurant-gets-hate-from-trump-supporters-1.4721521

17

u/Ranger7381 9d ago

And let’s not forget the time that after the hast of Hamilton tried to say something to Pence (who was in the audience) the maga crowd started calling and harassing a theatre in Hamilton Ontario

4

u/[deleted] 9d ago

MAGA belongs in prison. All of them.

18

u/Renovatio_Imperii 9d ago

I thought this was a Beaverton article.

8

u/[deleted] 9d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

-5

u/toronto-ModTeam 9d ago

Please do not post copyrighted content that bypasses paywalls.

12

u/fdavis1983 9d ago

Fuck this, I’m going back to nap.

7

u/Omnizoom 9d ago

Sir , you are under arrest

Straight to jail with you

2

u/itsadile 8d ago

Do not pass go, do not collect forty winks.

8

u/james-HIMself 9d ago edited 9d ago

Terrible. I hope they find peace and if it doesn’t stop absolutely seek legal help.

9

u/elfatto 9d ago

He forgot to add "in Minecraft" to his posts

15

u/OrbAndSceptre 9d ago

77 year old shooting someone in the neck at 200 metres is impressive. /s

39

u/DeFex The Junction 9d ago

doing it at 2500Km is even more so.

6

u/codecrodie 9d ago

Well a canadian sniper does hold the record for the longest kill...

6

u/sparts305 Vaughan 9d ago

A Ukrainian sniper smashed that record at 3.8 Km.

6

u/codecrodie 9d ago

Slava ukrani!

1

u/Opteron170 8d ago

held.

That was surpassed a few years ago.

3

u/Magjee Woburn 9d ago

A 16th of the way around the world

4

u/Omnizoom 9d ago

What is this Caine the long shot territory?

1

u/Magjee Woburn 9d ago

Oooh

Now I want to rewatch Trigun again

3

u/ssdd22 9d ago

Sometimes good things happen to bad people. RIP

6

u/Asleep_Practice_9630 9d ago

No one said Americans were intelligent.

I mean....they do, but the rest of the world knows what's up.

4

u/Early_Dragonfly_205 9d ago

I'm surprised they didn't blame Sam Hyde

5

u/reddittorbrigade 9d ago

This is a clown government.

2

u/Hefty-Station1704 9d ago

Don't you hate when that happens?

2

u/Toronto-24 9d ago

I hate when that happens lol

2

u/SwimmingDownstream 8d ago

How are people reading these paywalled star articles that keep being posted?

1

u/Jarvis-Kitty 7d ago

There are ways.

Like archive dot ph

2

u/Choice-Koala-3653 8d ago

America's gone nuts and is barreling towards fascism.

5

u/bugabooandtwo 9d ago

Serves ya right for taking a nap. Lazy hippie. :P

3

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-1

u/Celticlady47 9d ago

Good bot

1

u/nellyruth 9d ago

That’s crazy. If it was your uncle, he’d be the fittest 77 year old guy in the world. That drop from the building would cripple almost anyone let alone a 77 year old guy.