:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55503267/5454121713_72cc240cce_o.0.jpg)
As President Trump continues to hurl accusations of “fake news!” at various media outlets via Twitter, the latest victim of the fake news epidemic is a decidedly more sympathetic character: beloved burger chain Whataburger.
A pesky fake news article surfaced in recent days proclaiming that the Texas-based fast-food chain would be closing all of its stores as of February 2018, allegedly due to a rash of food poisoning incidents linked to salmonella. A minor social media freakout ensued, but as Public Enemy would say, don’t believe the hype: Whataburger quickly took to Twitter to assuage its fans’ fears by proclaiming the article a hoax.
An article is being circulated stating that Whataburger will be closing all stores. This article is a hoax, and we aren’t going anywhere. pic.twitter.com/Y6dF97urBO
— Whataburger® (@Whataburger) June 28, 2017
Anyone who actually clicked through to the so-called news story would have been greeted with “You’ve Been Pranked!” in a sizable font — though, as we all found out in the lead-up to the 2016 election, social media users love to share unverified information without bothering to actually read it. Nonetheless, fans responded with a mixture of relief and scorn aimed at those who would perpetuate such a terrible hoax:
my day was really about to get ruined because I thought whataburger was closing... y'all think this is a game?? it wasn't funny
— sharon | 21 (@mendesftalessia) June 28, 2017
Saw an article on Facebook that Whataburger is closing next year, but it was a joke article. The Lord was testing me
— iron dick rick (@Sick_Rams) June 28, 2017
People who thought @Whataburger was actually closing are the same folks who think there's local singles in their area wanting to hook up
— Raymond (@Ray_mond_W) June 29, 2017
Thankfully, Whataburger and its 750-plus locations are here to stay — but in the meantime, loyal fans may want to go savor a Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit, a fast-food breakfast so tasty it inspired one Texas man to belt out a soulful ode that recently went viral.
• @Whataburger [Twitter]
• Whataburger Is Trolling Kanye West So Hard Right Now on Twitter [E]
