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Website combats ‘fake news’ claim by publishing video of ‘vile act’

A regional news website published a video of a sailor attempting to insert a pool ball into another man’s anus in order to combat accusations that it was reporting “fake news”.

Footage of the “vile act”, allegedly involving current Royal Navy servicemen, was uploaded to Cornwall Live as part of the site’s bid to quash rumours about the veracity of the video which had been reported elsewhere.

An initial story by the Daily Mail had reported that the 10 sailors faced serious disciplinary action over the incident, which is said to have taken place at the Red Lion pub, in Helston, on 24 February.

The pub subsequently released a statement claiming the Mail’s story, which was followed up by Cornwall Live, was “close to 100pc untrue”.

A screenshot of the edited video published on Cornwall Live

A screenshot of the edited video published on Cornwall Live

But, in response, Cornwall Live said footage of the incident which it had been sent clearly showed the participants engaging in “indecent, extreme and inappropriate” acts.

The site described the two men’s colleagues laughing as one attempts to insert an eight-ball from the room’s pool table into the backside of another, although it used a graphic of a pool ball to obscure the actual act itself.

In a story accompanying the footage, it added: “Cornwall Live has decided to share the video due to the conflicting reports of the events and lack of verified information from the authorities who would not comment on the specifics while their investigations are ongoing.

“But we have disguised it so that the images cannot be distinguished and the sound can be heard, with swear words and names bleeped out.”

Both Devon and Cornwall Police and the Royal Navy confirmed they are investigating the incident, but the latter has declined to comment further on the matter.

Cornwall Live editor Philippa Jenkins told HTFP: “I was keen to publish the video after rumours suggested the alleged incident had never actually happened.

“Cornwall Live was being slammed for running ‘fake news’ and I wanted to quash that as quickly as possible once we had the footage.

“Interestingly, despite taking great care to censor the content of the video as much as possible and explaining why, there was further criticism over the alleged acts not being properly visible.”

6 comments

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  • March 6, 2019 at 8:02 am
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    A printed description of the act would be more than sufficient! Does anybody really need to watch it to believe it? What on earth has become of our industry?

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  • March 6, 2019 at 8:44 am
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    @DisgruntledToggy
    Just another example of how unprofessional, and desperate for attention,the regional press has become in its never ending quest for social media likes and clicks.
    Sad but indicative of the way the industry’s headed and yet another pointer as to why it’s not taken seriously as a genuine news provider any longer

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  • March 6, 2019 at 9:42 am
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    “ footage showed pool ball being inserted into sailor’s anus”
    If this,along with the shockingly bad ABC figures for both daily and weekly papers,published last week, doesn’t sum up how irrelevant the output of the regional press is nowadays I don’t know what is.

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  • March 6, 2019 at 11:15 am
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    I think this vile act in a public place is indeed newsworthy. I think we all know where the cries of ‘fake news’ originate from. Journalists should stand by their training to give an unbiased account of the facts and all those crying ‘fake news’ should be impeached.

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  • March 6, 2019 at 1:58 pm
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    @Lydia I agree the story is newsworthy but don’t need a video of the act!

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  • March 6, 2019 at 4:26 pm
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    Nothing says “striking a blow for press freedom and quality journalism” like publishing a video of a man shoving a snooker ball up another man’s nipsy.

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