Online marketplaces selling mock Trump shooting shirts featuring a false image
In the wake of Donald Trump's shooting, an incredible amount of misinformation and insensitive sales tactics surfaced. One social media user, identified as @jewgazing, was incorrectly accused of being the shooter due to resemblance and his comments, which fueled the confusion. Surprisingly, online shops such as TeeWorksUSA, ChoiceTees USA, and Father Figuring Clothing have capitalized on this chaos by selling t-shirts featuring the face of the innocent man @jewgazing.
Sporting the likeness of @jewgazing, these shirts add fuel to the fire, perpetuating the false narrative that @jewgazing was the shooter. It's uncertain who this man is, but his Twitter activity appeared to poke fun at the misidentification, potentially seeding the confusion. In a now-deleted video on Twitter, @jewgazing claimed, "My name is Thomas Matthew Crooks... I hate Republicans, I hate Trump, and guess what... you got the wrong guy." Unfortunately, the shooter is deceased, adding to the unfortunate mix-up.
Enterprising businesses like Combat Iron Apparel and Bonfire offer a diverse range of political and humorous designs on their platforms. However, there's no solid evidence that shirts specifically related to the case of the misidentified shooter are currently available for sale on these popular online marketplaces or social media platforms.
Interestingly, several websites have been selling products with images of Trump immediately following the shooting. For example, Etsy offers thousands of items, including coffee mugs, wall art, and various garments. The most widely used photo for these products was captured by Associated Press photographer Evan Vucci. Trump himself has even started running ads with the image on Facebook, captioned "I will NEVER SURRENDER! I will always love you for supporting me. Unity. Peace. Make America Great Again."
Legal action may be in store for those profiting from unauthorized use of images. In a statement to ABC News, the Associated Press (AP) highlighted their ownership of the powerful image and their readiness to protect their rights. Famed for their lawsuit against Shepard Fairey over the unauthorized use of a photo to create a memo of President Barack Obama, the AP has a strong history of defending their intellectual property. Fairey ultimately settled with the AP and received probation in 2012.
Aside from the fringe websites selling shirts with the wrong photo and misidentifying the shooter, countless conspiracy theories have emerged. Variations of these theories suggest a Secret Service cover-up or proposing a different name, Maxwell Yearick, as the real shooter. Rumors such as these, propagated by individuals like Trump ally Roger Stone, further stir the pot of contention and unsubstantiated claims.
One thing is certain: the man identified as @jewgazing is not the shooter who aimed to assassinate Trump. As the online chaos surrounding the incident continues, let's strive for facts and empathy rather than exploitation.
- The future of social media and the tech industry might require stricter regulations to prevent crooks from capitalizing on tragic events like the misidentification of @jewgazing.
- Amidst the chaos, Twitter user @jewgazing, incorrectly identified as the shooter, humorously poked fun at his misidentification on his Twitter account.
- Tech companies and online shops, such as Combat Iron Apparel, Bonfire, TeeWorksUSA, ChoiceTees USA, and Father Figuring Clothing, have utilized the shooter incident for sales, even going as far as to sell t-shirts featuring the innocent man @jewgazing's likeness.
- Despite numerous conspiracy theories flooding the internet about a Secret Service cover-up or the identity of the real shooter, such as Maxwell Yearick, the truth remains that the man identified as @jewgazing is not the shooter who aimed to assassinate Trump.
