Lazy "Journalism"

Today I clicked over to some webisite called BuzzFeed, which had compiled a list of "The 50 Funniest Celebrity Quotes Of The 2000s." It was enjoyable. People say some stupid things. No, Arnold Schwarzenegger, gay marriage can't be between a man and woman, that's just regular marriage. Oh, Sarah Palin, that's like saying you don't read any newspapers. Walls at Wal-Mart? Nice try, Paris Hilton.

As you can see, all fun and games, until I got to this one:

#19 - Coldplay's Chris Martin, on charity work (2006): “Can we get on with this? I've got to do AIDS and Alzheimer's and land mines this afternoon, and I want to get back for Deal or No Deal. Plus, Gwyneth's making drumsticks.”

Yeah. That one was funny. You know why?

Because he said it on Extras! A scripted Ricky Gervais BBC comedy in which every episode features a celebrity playing an overblown, ridiculous caricature of themselves!

Here are clips from Chris' appearance. The quote is lifted from about the 1:39 mark:



Now, I realize it's also my fault for getting worked up about misinformation on the internet as it comes with the territory. But, still, seriously? You thought this was real, BuzzFeed? If he had actually said this it would have exposed him as a complete and utter fraud in regard to his charity work and vegetarianism. Didn't the folks about BuzzFeed think they should have heard about this revelation before?

Pretty embarrassing stuff for BuzzFeed, but also for Chris Martin* as anyone who reads that stupid list will have a completely different idea of him. Well, assuming that reader doesn't suspect foul play and do two seconds of research and, I don't know, google the quote. That was apparently too much to ask BuzzFeed to do, so I don't know why they would expect that from their readers.

* I'm sure he'll cry himself to bed on his pile of money next to Gwyneth Paltrow tonight.

Hopefully, BuzzFeed will take this down soon, I noticed people calling foul in the comments at the bottom so maybe a correction will be posted by the time you follow the link.

Until then, some absolutely brilliant appearances on Extras by Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen. Hysterical stuff.