Fact Check

Rosie O'Donnell Gets ISIS Tattoo for 'Freedom Fighters'

Rumor: Television personality Rosie O'Donnell got an ISIS tattoo in support of the Islamic State's 'struggle against Western imperialism.'

Published April 21, 2015

Claim:

 

 

Claim:   Television personality Rosie O'Donnell got an ISIS tattoo in support of the Islamic State's "struggle against Western imperialism."


 

FALSE

 


Example: [Collected via e-mail, April 2015]

 

Is this true?

 

Rosie O'Donnell Gets ISIS Tattoo for 'Freedom Fighters'

 

 

 

 

Origins:   On 20 April 2015, the web site The People's Cube published an article positing that comedian and television personality Rosie O'Donnell (late of The View) had recently shown off an ISIS tattoo she obtained "in order to raise awareness about the Islamic State's struggle against Western imperialism":

 

Rosie O'Donnell was a guest today on David Bender's "Politically Direct," a progressive radio talk show on Air America, discussing her recent decision to get the ISIS flag tattooed on her lower back. Even though the idea has become controversial even among some of her liberal colleagues, O'Donnell said that she was willing to take the heat in order to raise awareness about the Islamic State's struggle against Western imperialism.

 

"We need to recognize these brave individuals' fight for their freedom against the corrupting Western influences," O'Donnell said before standing up and turning her back to Bender while lifting her shirt and lowering her pants to expose the ISIS flag tattoo.

 

 

 

That article was widely circulated via social media, with many readers mistaking it for a genuine news report. However, the article was just a spoof from a clickbait fake news site known for spreading malware.

 

 

 

 

Last updated:   21 April 2015

David Mikkelson founded the site now known as snopes.com back in 1994.