The QAnon conspiracy theory is one of the most pervasive and outlandish conspiracy theories to cross the American consciousness in several decades.
For those unfamiliar, the QAnon conspiracy claims former President Donald Trump was fighting a secret war against a cult of cannibalistic pedophiles who worshipped Satan and were secretly embedded in the governments of several national powers.
One of the folks implicated in this wild conspiracy was CNN News Anchor Anderson Cooper, who recently conducted an interview with ex-believer Jitarth Jadeja. They discussed his deprogramming and what the conspiracy cult actually had him buying into.
One particular moment is sticking out to the public as extremely bizarre.
Former QAnon believer to @andersoncooper: "I apologize for thinking that you ate babies" https://t.co/IcVIwpYykd— Oliver Darcy (@Oliver Darcy) 1612022058.0
"Did you, at the time, believe that Democrats, high-level Democrats and celebrities were worshipping Satan, drinking the blood of children?" Anderson Cooper asked Jadeja, an Australian citizen. Jadeja confirmed not only did he believe some nameless Democrats were doing that, but he thought Cooper himself was partaking.
"Anderson, I thought you did that, And I would like to apologize for that right now. So, I apologize for thinking that you ate babies. But, yeah, 100%."
@oliverdarcy @andersoncooper WTAF 😳 https://t.co/41lT1HLqqZ— SBAC (she/her) (@SBAC (she/her)) 1612140614.0
@oliverdarcy @andersoncooper https://t.co/q0Bsr7FRgB— MountainBuckeye ⁷🧈 (@MountainBuckeye ⁷🧈) 1612114584.0
@oliverdarcy @B52Malmet @andersoncooper https://t.co/6Cx9uSAfvE— Alamo_On_The_Rise 😷🇺🇲 (@Alamo_On_The_Rise 😷🇺🇲) 1612034799.0
@oliverdarcy @andersoncooper https://t.co/77qVLHDLef— Phenomenally -Openly- Black ✊🏾 (she/her) (@Phenomenally -Openly- Black ✊🏾 (she/her)) 1612113601.0
@oliverdarcy @kevinpbreslin @andersoncooper https://t.co/UOhj3EEf4V— The Earl of Leuven💙 (@The Earl of Leuven💙) 1612045551.0
In addition, he said some followers believe Cooper is a robot, acting on behalf of "a group of fifth-dimensional, inter-dimensional, extraterrestrial bipedal bird aliens called blue avians."
This. Is. Crazy. https://t.co/uxdtS6yxEp— Ana Navarro-Cárdenas (@Ana Navarro-Cárdenas) 1612065292.0
“I apologize for thinking you ate babies, Anderson Cooper.” A few comments + context for those seeing this ridicul… https://t.co/FkcLTezvMU— Dean Wallace 🗳🗽 (@Dean Wallace 🗳🗽) 1612072647.0
Former Q believer to Anderson Cooper: "I'm sorry for thinking you ate babies." I honestly hope this is the quote that defines Trumpism.— Beau of The Fifth Column (@Beau of The Fifth Column) 1612010128.0
Watching a guy apologize to Anderson Cooper for once thinking he ate babies and was a robot is so 2021.— Samuel William (@Samuel William) 1612061211.0
QAnon links up with a network of conspiracy theories, including one called Pizzagate, which implicated the Comet Ping Pong pizzeria in Washington, D.C. as a front for a child sex trafficking ring operated by the Democrats with business conducted in a non-existent basement.
Most everything involved with QAnon is easily disproven with just a modicum of research and common sense and entirely illogical.
@oliverdarcy @andersoncooper When we say a cult that’s brainwashing people, we mean it.— Scott Dworkin (@Scott Dworkin) 1612155072.0
Good morning Twitter it’s going to be a beautiful day!!! “I’m sorry I thought Anderson Cooper Ate babies” I’m going back to bed— Bozz The Resister🌊🏳️🌈🐾❤️😷 (@Bozz The Resister🌊🏳️🌈🐾❤️😷) 1612104523.0
Imagine someone having to apologize for believing Anderson Cooper ate babies? Yes really! https://t.co/4vnYmI1rIz— Cliff W (@Cliff W) 1612045005.0
AM news: - Child Genius Don Jr taunts The Lincoln Project - OVER: Asa Hutchinson career - Welcome back Jon Stewa… https://t.co/fPADnsewQt— Eric the editor 🇺🇸💙🇺🇸🍻⚽️ (@Eric the editor 🇺🇸💙🇺🇸🍻⚽️) 1612115836.0
If i had a nickel for every time i had to make this apology... https://t.co/lRjo4dynSN— Hend Amry (@Hend Amry) 1612090390.0
QAnon continues to dominate a large part of the far-right of American politics.
Although the claims "Q" has been making have been extensively debunked and none of what Q promised has come to pass, deprogrammed Q believers are prime targets for White supremacist organizations. They seek to recruit people who have lost faith in QAnon in order to put their energy and anger someplace else.
Online misinformation, which is how QAnon communicate (often via a message board entitled 8chan) has been a major topic of conversation surrounding United States politics since the 2016 general election.