George Zimmerman Didn’t Win the Florida State Lottery; It’s The Onion

An article from satire news site The Onion saying George Zimmerman won the Florida lottery again went viral--months after it was published.

George Zimmerman, the ex-neighborhood watch volunteer was acquitted in the death of teen Trayvon Martin last year, isn’t dead. A fake article said he died. George Zimmerman, acquitted in the high-profile killing of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin, listens in court, in Sanford, Fla., during his hearing on charges including aggravated assault stemming from a fight with his girlfriend. The charges were later dropped. AP Photo/Orlando Sentinel, Joe Burbank, Pool, File

An article from satire news site The Onion saying George Zimmerman won the Florida lottery again went viral--months after it was published.

The article, which says “just days after being fully acquitted for his role in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, George Zimmerman reportedly won the $37 million Florida Lottery jackpot last night,” isn’t real. The Onion is a satire news site.

Here’s The Onion’s disclaimer: “The Onion is a satirical weekly publication published 52 times a year on Thursdays. The Onion is published by Onion, Inc ... The Onion uses invented names in all its stories, except in cases where public figures are being satirized. Any other use of real names is accidental and coincidental.”

On Twitter and Facebook, many thought the story was real.

“Woah did George Zimmerman Really win the lottery? Is that a sick twisted joke?” wrote one. 

The Onion re-posted the article on Facebook as part of it’s year-end recap.