Early Sunday morning, The Washington Post published an article about the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Cornered in a tunn...
Early Sunday morning, The Washington Post published an article about the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Cornered in a tunnel, the terrorist leader “detonated a suicide vest, killing himself” and three of his children, reports CBS News.
The original title of the Washington Post piece read: “Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Islamic State’s ‘terrorist-in-chief,’ dies at 48.” Then, in a bizarre twist, the title was changed to: “Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, austere religious scholar at helm of Islamic State, dies at 48.”
After receiving significant backlash, the title was changed for a final time: “Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, extremist leader of Islamic State, dies at 48.”
On Sunday afternoon, The Washington Post’s Vice President of Communications said the following about the title controversy: “Regarding our al-Baghdadi obituary, the headline should never have read that way and we changed it quickly.”
Regarding our al-Baghdadi obituary, the headline should never have read that way and we changed it quickly.
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This ridiculous title shuffle has led to the hashtag #WaPoDeathNotices, which as of publication, is trending at number five on Twitter.
Below are the funniest and most clever fake death notices mocking The Washington Post:
Jeffrey Dahmer, LGBT activist-pioneer, unconventional romantic, and avant-garde gastronomist passed away at age 34 surrounded by his caretakers #WaPoDeathNotices
1,107 people are talking about this
Jeffrey Dahmer, LGBT activist-pioneer, unconventional romantic, and avant-garde gastronomist passed away at age 34 surrounded by his caretakers.
Wicked Witch of the West, devoted sister, broom enthusiast, died suddenly from oversaturation, age unknown#WaPoDeathNotices
305 people are talking about this
Wicked Witch of the West, devoted sister, broom enthusiast, died suddenly from oversaturation, age unknown.
Adolf Hitler, passionate community planner and dynamic public speaker, dies at 56.#WaPoDeathNotices
7,789 people are talking about this
Adolf Hitler, passionate community planner and dynamic public speaker, dies at 56.
Ted Bundy, unconventional pickup artist, dies, shockingly, at 42 #WaPoDeathNotices
2,932 people are talking about this
Ted Bundy, unconventional pickup artist, dies, shockingly, at 42.
Emperor Palpatine, austere holder of emergency powers and advocate for democracy, died after a fall. #WaPoDeathNotices
698 people are talking about this
Emperor Palpatine, austere holder of emergency powers and advocate for democracy, died after a fall.
Nero, emperor who helped Christians bring light to Rome, dies at 30. #WaPoDeathNotices
1,687 people are talking about this
Nero, emperor who helped Christians bring light to Rome, dies at 30.
Sauron, passionate collector of rare jewelry, dead, age unknown. #WaPoDeathNotices
632 people are talking about this
Sauron, passionate collector of rare jewelry, dead, age unknown.
John Wayne Gacy, eccentric children’s performer, dies at 52. #WaPoDeathNotices
76 people are talking about this
John Wayne Gacy, eccentric children’s performer, dies at 52.
John Wilkes Booth, noted thespian, dies at age 24.
Adolf Hitler, passionate community planner and dynamic public speaker, dies at 56.#WaPoDeathNotices
Mao Zedong, who saved 20-45 million of his own people from having to suffer through the struggle of existence, dies at 82.#WaPoDeathNotices
3,252 people are talking about this
Mao Zedong, who saved 20-45 million of his own people from having to suffer through the struggle of existence, dies at 82.
Saddam Hussein, successful politician, oil baron and noted tough boss, dead at 69. #WaPoDeathNotices
3,119 people are talking about this
Saddam Hussein, successful politician, oil baron and noted tough boss, dead at 69.
Charles Manson, famous songwriter and meditation leader, dead at 83 #WaPoDeathNotices
4,860 people are talking about this
Charles Manson, famous songwriter and meditation leader, dead at 83.
Al Capone, noted self-made entrepreneur, dies at 48. #WaPoDeathNotices
1,281 people are talking about this
Al Capone, noted self-made entrepreneur, dies at 48.
Heinrich Himmler, passionate chicken farmer, dies unexpectedly at 44 #WaPoDeathNotices
589 people are talking about this
Heinrich Himmler, passionate chicken farmer, dies unexpectedly at 44.
The contrast between the way The Washington Post headlined the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi under President Trump and the way in which the paper headlined the death of Osama Bin Laden under President Obama makes the #WaPoDeathNotices trend all the more important to note.
On May 2, 2011, after it was announced that Osama Bin Ladin had been killed, The Washington Post offered a much more simple headline: “Osama bin Laden killed: Leader of terrorist group al-Qaeda was 54.”
Speaking on Sunday about the operation to take out Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, President Trump stated in part:
The thug who tried so hard to intimidate others spent his last moments in utter fear, in total panic and dread, terrified of the American forces bearing down on him…Terrorists who oppress and murder innocent people should never sleep soundly, knowing that we will completely destroy them. These savage monsters will not escape their fate, and they will not escape the final judgment of God…
“Last night was a great night for the United States and for the world. A brutal killer, one who has caused so much hardship and death, has violently been eliminated,” Trump concluded. “He will never again harm another innocent man, woman, or child. He died like a dog. He died like a coward. The world is now a much safer place.”
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