CNN Killed Pele, Then Revived Him With a Retraction

The world is mourning one of its stars as Edson Arantes do Nascimento, best known as Pelé, has passed away. His cause of death? CNN.

The news network announced earlier today via their New Day Twitter account that the soccer luminary had passed away at the age of 74.

But before you shed tears for the Brazilian footballer, rejoice, for he has risen like a modern-day Lazarus!

It turns out that the rumors of Pele’s passing originated from Twitter, and CNN ran with them because… well, we don’t know. But being first is better than being right, right?

CNN issued the inevitable retraction.

Also issuing statements of their own were CNN employees, who blamed the Internet for spreading misinformation.

Agreed, Isa Soares. People do need to stop telling lies. And CNN needs to stop reporting them.

Fidel Martinez is an editor at Fusion.net. He’s also a Texas native and a lifelong El Tri fan.