Says an NBC producer at the Olympics was caught on a hot mic saying “60% of people in this stadium will be dead within 10 days.”
Stand up for the facts!
Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy.
We need your help.
I would like to contribute
No, that Olympics hot mic video isn’t real — it’s a joke
If Your Time is short
- This originated on a comedian’s Twitter page but is being confused as authentic as it’s shared in other forums.
A spoof video shared on a comedian’s Twitter page has journeyed from joke to scandal as some people sharing and seeing it online appear to believe it’s authentic.
It’s not.
But here’s the premise: an NBC producer is caught on a hot mic saying: "We just spoke to a chief medical examiner. They said 60% of people in this stadium will be dead within 10 days. They’re thinking of using the swimming pool as a mass grave. Did you know that? Yeah they’re just going to start burning bodies."
A post sharing the video was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.) That video originated on TikTok.
Featured Fact-check
"This is obviously not authentic," a spokesperson for NBC Sports told PolitiFact. NBC is broadcasting the Olympics in the United States.
Comedian Tim Dillon shared the video on his Twitter account on July 23, writing, "Man this is crazy. NBC employee fired after hot mic incident at Olympics."
Some users are clearly in on the joke, like those commenting on a post in a forum that describes the video as the "greatest hot mic moment ever."
But we rate claims that it’s real False.
Our Sources
Facebook post, July 25, 2021
Tim Dillon tweet, July 23, 2021
Tiger Droppings, NBC announcer fired after caught on hot mic disparaging the Olympics, visited July 25, 2021
Email interview with Jamie Palatini, NBC Sports Group Communications manager, July 26, 2021
Browse the Truth-O-Meter
More by Ciara O'Rourke
No, that Olympics hot mic video isn’t real — it’s a joke
Support independent fact-checking.
Become a member!
In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts.