A viral copypasta text alleges numerous things about the teenager, his murder trial, and the people he shot. Some are more true than others.
Publication: Kenosha
Truth or Fiction?→ Kenosha Homicide Trial Riddled With Disinformation, Weaponized Narratives
The trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, the teenager who killed two people and wounded a third during a shooting spree in Kenosha, Wisconsin during protests against police brutality in August 2020, has made daily headlines nationally and internationally —
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Kyle Rittenhouse’s Trial Opens with His Lawyer Saying the N-Word Twice in Court’
On November 4 2021, a Reddit user shared a purported headline, “Kyle Rittenhouse’s trial opens with his lawyer saying the N-word twice in court,” to r/MarchAgainstNazis: Need I say more? from MarchAgainstNazis
Snopes→ Is This Meme About Adam Toledo and Kyle Rittenhouse Accurate?
Some social media users drew comparisons between two high-profile incidents involving teens.
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Kenosha Car Dealer Kills Himself After His Insurance Won’t Cover a Cent of the 2.5 Million Dollars of Damages’ Caused by BLM Protests
On September 9 2020, a screenshot of a fabricated Fox Business article headlined “Kenosha car dealer kills himself after his insurance won’t cover a cent of the 2.5 million dollars of damages caused by the riots” was shared to meme a
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Kyle Rittenhouse’s Lawyer Tweet That His Client Started a ‘Second American Revolution’?
On September 2 2020, Twitter user @JoshuaPotash shared the following screenshot, which was purportedly a tweet in which a lawyer for Kyle Rittenhouse — a teenager charged with killing two people — said that his client had fired the first s
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘I Plan to Lead Another Non-Violent March Tomorrow’
A political cartoon depicting the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. recirculated online in August 2020, as users pointed out the parallels between how his efforts for Black liberation were viewed during his life and skepticism around the Black Lives Mat
Truth or Fiction?→ Did an Autopsy Reveal That Joseph Rosenbaum Was Shot in the Back Multiple Times?
On August 28 2020, a Facebook user shared the following post about 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse, charged with shooting and killing two protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin: It read: BREAKING: Autopsy reveals that Kyle Rittenhouse’s first victim was s
Truth or Fiction?→ Was ‘a Mob’ Trying to Break into the Mayor of Kenosha’s Home?
The mayor of Kenosha, Wisconsin rebuffed a lie from United States President Donald Trump on September 1 2020 — after Trump called him “foolish” prior to visiting the city against the wishes of both local and state leadership. The pre
Truth or Fiction?→ Facebook Blames Lack of Training For Spread of Kenosha ‘Militia’ Gang Content
As content praising the suspect in a double homicide committed during a protest against police brutality in Kenosha, Wisconsin continued to proliferate on Facebook, the social media platform’s executive officer, Mark Zuckerberg, blamed a lack of
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Deputy Rittenhouse’ and the Kenosha Sheriff’s Department
On August 27 2020, amid algorithmically-charged discourse about teenaged shooting suspect Kyle Rittenhouse in Kenosha, Wisconsin, rumors on Facebook and Twitter appeared with claims that Rittenhouse’s father was “Deputy Rittenhouse”
Truth or Fiction?→ Two Killed in Kenosha During Racial Violence Inflamed in Facebook Groups
As racial violence escalated and echoed throughout the United States during the summer of 2020 and “civil defense” groups formed on Facebook and appeared at demonstrations throughout the country, a gunman shot and killed two people during
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Someone Organize an Online Fundraiser for the Kenosha Murder Suspect?
Not long after his identity was revealed, the seventeen-year-old Illinois teen accused of committing a double murder in Kenosha, Wisconsin was the intended beneficiary of an online fundraiser in his name. The fundraiser raised $705 on GoFundMe before
Snopes→ Wisconsin School Ends Cheerleading Awards for Body Parts
A human resources official met with the cheerleading coach and directed her to resign. However, she has continued coaching the cheerleading squad, the ACLU said.