FACT CHECK: Did the FBI Remove a Pride Month Post Due to Bullying?
A social media post that went viral claimed the FBI was pressured (“bullied”) into deleting its post acknowledging LGBTQ+ Pride Month. However, this assertion is misleading. According to an FBI spokesperson who communicated with Check Your Fact, the deletion happened due to an issue with the post’s formatting, not because of external bullying. The FBI corrected the formatting and republished the post. The misleading narrative circulated broadly online, with one version appearing on a platform called X and another variant on Facebook. Critical details regarding the claim were clarified through statements from the FBI’s spokesperson and further supported by reputable news fact-checking sources.
A viral post shared on X claims the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) purportedly “got bullied” into deleting its post recognizing LGBTQ+ Pride Month.
The FBI got bullied into deleting their Pride post.
This is the way. https://t.co/SasJuOCOk7
— TheQuartering (@TheQuartering) June 4, 2024
Verdict: Misleading
An FBI spokesperson told Check Your Fact via email that the post was deleted due to incorrect formatting, not bullying. The post has since been republished, the same spokesperson said.
Fact Check:
The FBI recently released 475 pages of documents related to the O.J. Simpson investigation for the 1994 murders of Nicole Simpson Brown and Ron Goldman to the public, CBS News reported. The documents were previously released via Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, according to the outlet.
The X post, which has received over 70,000 views as of writing, claims the FBI purportedly “got bullied” into deleting its post recognizing LGBTQ+ Pride Month. “The FBI got bullied into deleting their Pride post. This is the way,” the post’s caption reads. The post features two screenshots, one showing the LGBTQ+ Pride Month post shared by the FBI and a second indicating the post had later been deleted. Another iteration of the post also circulated on Facebook.
The claim is misleading, however. An FBI spokesperson told Reuters the post was deleted due to incorrect formatting, not bullying, the outlet reported.
A spokesperson for the Bureau reiterated their claim to Check Your Fact via email.
“The initial post was deleted because the formatting of the graphic was incorrect,” the spokesperson said. “There were no changes to the content when the material was reposted,” the same spokesperson added.
“At the #FBI, we know that diversity makes us stronger. During #PrideMonth, the FBI celebrates our #LGBTQIA+ colleagues’ contributions to our country and our mission,” the new post reads in part.
At the #FBI, we know that diversity makes us stronger. During #PrideMonth, the FBI celebrates our #LGBTQIA+ colleagues’ contributions to our country and our mission. Learn more about the Bureau’s diversity and inclusion initiatives: https://t.co/qYeLcYObNb #PRIDE pic.twitter.com/c7jqFrvMYp
— FBI (@FBI) June 3, 2024
Likewise, Check Your Fact found no credible news reports suggesting the FBI had deleted its post due to bullying. In addition, the Bureau has not issued a statement responding to the claim on its website or its verified social media accounts. (RELATED: No, This Image Does Not Show Official Lockheed Martin Pride Flag Graphic)
Check Your Fact has contacted the FBI for comment and will update this piece accordingly if one is received.
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