'Stop digging': Observer writer starts fake news on Trump, plays victim when she's called out

.@BuzzFeedBen Didn't you say you were hiring? https://t.co/tnxgL1Zm2d

— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) January 27, 2017

Twitter, was, well, all atwitter over supposed evidence purporting to prove that Trump (or, rather, someone on his team) Photoshopped his hand in a photo to look bigger. Too good to check, right? It sure was for Observer arts and culture writer Dana Schwartz, who set the wheels in motion by sharing her findings with her 56.3 thousand Twitter followers:

This may come as a huge shock to you, but as it turns out, the image wasn’t altered:

No, Trump didn't Photoshop his hand to look bigger https://t.co/m5rbNdIlbl pic.twitter.com/RRZ1aalrvr

— The Verge (@verge) January 27, 2017

Whoops.

Well, at least Dana’s truly sorry about causing this whole mess. Oh, wait:

https://twitter.com/DanaSchwartzzz/status/825068629863526400

Ok. I'm not "the media." I'm a person on twitter who saw a suspicious-looking photo and retweeted it. The internet is a place of nightmares

— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) January 27, 2017

Hello, Twitter. I tweeted out a photo I saw without externally verifying it. I did not realize this would become a major news issue.

— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) January 27, 2017

https://twitter.com/DanaSchwartzzz/status/825072111656001536

Let me be clear: I DO NOT KNOW FOR SURE WHETHER OR NOT THE HANDS WERE SHOPPED. Please don't take my tweets for verified news.

— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) January 27, 2017

https://twitter.com/DanaSchwartzzz/status/825073001586688001

Awww, that’s nice.

https://twitter.com/seanmdav/status/825078364918730752

Recommended

Buckle Up, New York: You're About to Get What You Voted For With Collectivist Commie Mamdani

Grateful Calvin

Advertisement

Trump will be just fine. Schwartz on the other hand … well, let’s just say she’s getting an earful.

https://twitter.com/Matthops82/status/825077868589899776

https://twitter.com/Kristi0729/status/825078633593180160

https://twitter.com/seanmdav/status/825077210902048770

https://twitter.com/seanmdav/status/825080052517859328

Really @DanaSchwartzzz you didn’t realize that your credibility hinges on you being a credible reporter of facts? @seanmdav

— Greg Quark (@GregQ42) January 27, 2017

https://twitter.com/seanmdav/status/825077588964024322

https://twitter.com/sunnyright/status/825081994837110784

https://twitter.com/seanmdav/status/825078214204747776

https://twitter.com/pfal/status/825082693960364032

Ah, the condescension and arrogance when caught spreading dumb crap really makes the MSM even more endearing https://t.co/yBrNFvRjBr

— David Rutz (@DavidRutz) January 27, 2017

its all about your intent. You wanted to be mean. Not fooling anyone.

— ✝️Patriot Deb☕⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@born_summer62) January 27, 2017

Evidently Schwartz had had enough, because she eventually tweeted this:

I'm honestly, genuinely, really sorry. I saw an image, tweeted it because I thought it was funny and seemed true.

— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) January 27, 2017

I'm sorry for inadvertently contributing to a culture of not knowing which facts are legitimate. But please don't compare a tweet about…

— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) January 27, 2017

…photoshopped hands to real political journalism. This was just a mistake in something I hastily tweeted, not malicious fake news.

— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) January 27, 2017

So, has she learned her lesson? Tune in next time!