Jalen Hurts, the quarterback for the Alabama Crimson Tide, confirmed as a transgender is a viral prank. There is no truth to a report that the Crimson Tide quarterback is a transgender. Where did this prank originate? The fake article was found on React365 with the basic headline reading “Alabama QB confirmed as a transgender”. Here is the full text of the hoax:
After months of speculation, it has been confirmed a Houston Texas hositpal that university of Alabama quarterback was a female. Should Hurts be allowed to continue to play NCAA football?? Only time will tell
However, there is no truth to the above story, according to Hoax Alert. While the story did receive some attention on social media despite its inaccuracies, it should be disregarded as fake. Here are some reactions on social media to the prank about Hurts’ gender.
Jalen Hurts is transgender 😳
— Rucho (@Benny_The_Jet10) September 22, 2017
Some web page is claiming that jalen hurts is a transgender female lmao people on the internet do the most
— TomCat (@Ch1pSkylark) September 21, 2017
Alabama QB confirmed as a transgender https://t.co/luIpj67m1V
— :LONG_Live_CODY (: (@FloridaBoii75) September 22, 2017
Soooo Alabama got a transgender QB LMFAO
— 💰⚖️🐐 (@__Cashh900) September 22, 2017
With regards to React365, that site is a prank website that has previously duped many on social media with false headlines. The prank site allows its users to submit their own made up headline, description and photo. As a result, React365 creates prank news articles that can easily fool readers leading to them to being shared on social media falsely.
Hoax Alert further noted that React365 users do not even need to upload their own image as there is a built-in search function allowing them to pull an useful image from Google image search. So, what most likely happened in this case is that a fan of an Alabama opponent had some fun at Hurts’ expense and created the fake headline to mock him.
Recently, Hurts accounted for 248 passing yards and 103 rushing yards, leading Alabama to a 41-17 rout of Colorado State. Alabama has been off to a great start as it has been 297 days since Alabama committed a turnover.
Alabama is ranked second in the SEC and tied for third nationally with a +6 turnover margin. The Tide has intercepted five passes and recovered one fumble to start the season and, as we pointed out, has not turned the football over in three games.
With Hurts handling 89 of the Tide’s 186 offensive plays this season, he has been great with the ball while accounting for seven touchdowns and 784 total yards.
Hurts’s parents are Pamela and Averion Hurts. Hurts has two siblings, a younger sister, Kynnedy, and an older brother, named after their father, Averion, who is currently the starting quarterback for Texas Southern University in his senior year.
What did you think of the fake news about Hurts being confirmed as a transgender? Did you believe the prank or see people sharing the news about the Alabama quarterback falsely on social media? Let us know in the comments section.
Photo Credit: Source