Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Fox Business Host Pranked By Animal Activist Posing As Meat Company CEO Live On Her Show

Fox Business Host Pranked By Animal Activist Posing As Meat Company CEO Live On Her Show
Fox Business

The various platforms under the Fox News umbrella has never exactly been known for its attention to detail, but a recent lapse has taken things to a new level.

In a recent segment of her show, Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo interviewed a man who she thought was the new CEO of pork-processing giant Smithfield Foods, but was actually animal rights activist Matt Johnson.


The incident happened during a live segment of Bartiromo's show Mornings With Maria last week.

During the interview, Johnson—who works for animal rights network Direct Action Everywhere—posed as Smithfield CEO Dennis Organ.

During his conversation with Bartiromo told viewers that factory farms like Smithfield's were likely to be sources of future pandemics. Following a question regarding Smithfield's meat-processing plant in South Dakota, which was the locus of a major outbreak early in the pandemic, Johnson called factory farms "petri dishes for new diseases."

While posing as the meat company's CEO, Johnson shared statistics about companies like Smithfield's role in spreading disease.

"The truth is our industry poses a serious threat in bringing on the next pandemic, with 3 in 4 infectious diseases coming from animals."

Johnson also said factory farms like Smithfield's pollute our air and waterways and claimed the company will be spending half a billion dollars a year in mitigating their environmental impact beginning in 2021.

Though Bartiromo does roll her eyes at some of Johnson's comments, at no point does it ever seem to dawn on her that a supposed meat-company CEO is casting a damning portrait of his own industry.

By the end of her show, however, Bartiromo had been alerted to the prank.

She issued an apology to her viewership.

"It appears we have been punk'd. Earlier in the program, I interviewed someone claiming to be the CEO of Smithfield Foods, Dennis Organ.
"We've since learned that that was not Dennis Organ, but an imposter making false claims about the company. He is someone who has absolutely no relation to Smithfield Foods."
"We want to apologize to Dennis Organ, Smithfield Foods, and to our audience for making this mistake."

But many on Twitter were not about to let her off the hook.


And many others felt the mishap was right on-brand for Fox.




And, of course, many found the whole thing hilarious.




At the conclusion of her apology, Bartiromo promised her viewership that she and her team will be "more vigilant" in the future.

More from Trending/funny-news

Donald Trump; Superman (2025) poster
Joe Raedle/Getty Images; Warner Bros. Pictures

White House Blasted After Portraying Trump As Superman In Bonkers Poster Mock-up

The White House was mercilessly mocked online after it posted a revised poster for the latest Superman film that features President Donald Trump as the Man of Steel.

The latest big screen adaptation of the famed superhero comic, Superman, was directed by James Gunn and stars David Corenswet as the titular superhero, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. The film has received positive reviews and has already made an estimated $2.8 million from Tuesday previews for a total $21 million, including Thursday previews.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Charlie Kirk
Real America's Voice

MAGA Influencer Charlie Kirk Called Out After Blaming DEI For High Death Toll In Texas Flooding Disaster

Turning Point USA founder and MAGA influencer Charlie Kirk was harshly criticized after he claimed the death toll in the flash floods that have devastated central Texas "would not have been as high if it wasn't for DEI," ridiculously suggesting that principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion were responsible.

Kirk's comments are reflective of President Donald Trump’s broader push to dismantle federal programs focused on diversity and inclusion—part of what he pledged in his inaugural address would be a campaign to stop attempts to “socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life.”

Keep ReadingShow less

People Reveal The Dark Secrets They Discovered About Someone After They Died

Sometimes you never know who someone is until they're gone.

Everyone has their secrets.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Jesse Watters; Hakeem Jeffries
Fox News; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Jesse Watters Pathetically Tries To Burn Hakeem Jeffries With Bizarre 'Rule For Men' Rant

Fox News personality Jesse Watters was widely mocked after he criticized House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries for having recently shared a photo of himself on Instagram that appeared to be digitally altered—with the bench he was leaning against noticeably warped around his hips.

You can see Jeffries' photo below.

Keep ReadingShow less
Snoop Dogg
Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images

Snoop Dogg's Puppy Instagram Breaks Internet

Snoop Dogg introduced his fans to the newest little bow-wow in his household, a puppy named Baby Boy Broadus.

The adorable small tan French bulldog made his debut on the rapper’s Instagram account on June 28th, sporting a Louis Vuitton leash and chewing on his owner’s Death Row Jacket.

Keep ReadingShow less