Tim Walz wasn’t banned from college football games after attending one recently; that's fake news

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz didn’t flip the bird to football fans at a recent college game, much less get banned from the stadium. 

But some social media posts have claimed otherwise, sharing an image of Walz leaving the field at Michigan Stadium, where the Democratic vice presidential nominee watched the University of Minnesota lose to the home team Sept. 28.

In the image, which is blurry, Walz has an arm raised and a finger extended. 

"Unpopular Tampon Tim was booed out of the stadium and banned from future games for flipping off the fans," a Sept. 30 Threads post said.

Critics started derisively calling Walz "Tampon Tim" because he signed into law a measure that requires Minnesota public schools provide access to menstrual products in bathrooms regularly used by students in grades four to 12.

This post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and Threads.)

The post’s image comes from a video that’s circulated online since the game, and shows Walz walking and waving.

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Walz also extended a finger — but he’s pointing, not flipping someone off. 

The video footage isn’t crisp, but his pointing, not flipping,  becomes obvious when you compare it with an image of Walz from that same exit that he posted Sept. 29 on Instagram. 

Here, surrounded by the same people, he can be seen clearly pointing.  

Claims that Walz was banned from future games, meanwhile, appear to have originated on a self-described satire site. 

"Tim Walz barred from college football games after boos erupt: ‘We don’t want you here!’" the Oct. 1 headline on the satire site said. It was clearly marked "satire."

We found no other evidence, such as credible news stories or public statements from football or university officials, to corroborate the claim that Walz was banned. 

We rate that claim Pants on Fire!