Bill Murray ‘Stops Bank Robbery in Tokyo Accidentally’ Fake; Thousands Believe it

Bill Murray ‘Stops Bank Robbery in Tokyo Accidentally’ Fake; Thousands Believe it
Amy Adams, left, and Bill Murray speak on stage during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday, March 2, 2014, in Los Angeles. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)
Jack Phillips
3/31/2014
Updated:
7/18/2015

Bill Murray didn’t stop a bank robbery in Tokyo, as that was a report published on a “satire” news website, but a large number of people apparently believed the fake article.

“A bank robber was apprehended today in Tokyo after stopping to talk with none other than Bill Murray,” the fake article reads.

The article was published on the National Report, a satire news website.

It continues: “‘The man robbed the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, ran out, saw Bill Murray walking on the street and stopped to talk with him. This is when authorities were able to arrest the suspect,’ Tokyo Police Chief Hideyoshi Mori told reporters.”

According to its disclaimer, the National Report doesn’t publish real news.

“National Report is a news and political satire web publication, which may or may not use real names, often in semi-real or mostly fictitious ways. All news articles contained within National Report are fiction, and presumably fake news. Any resemblance to the truth is purely coincidental,” it says.

But numerous people thought the Murray satire was real.

“Bill Murray does it again. I love you Bill Murray!” one person said. “Bill Murray is a living legend!!!” added another.

One wrote: “This would not happen in America if the characters were reversed. For how many Americans robbing a bank would stop to talk to a Japaneese movie star? Not many Americans can identify any Japaneese movie stars.”

Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter with 15 years experience who started as a local New York City reporter. Having joined The Epoch Times' news team in 2009, Jack was born and raised near Modesto in California's Central Valley. Follow him on X: https://twitter.com/jackphillips5
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