| Record | OBS-0826 |
|---|---|
| Category | Media/Disinformation |
| Status | DEBUNKED |
| Summary | Conspiracy theorists claimed that survivors of the 2018 Parkland school shooting were paid crisis actors, traveling to mass shooting sites to push an anti-gun agenda. This theory was promoted by various right-wing figures and amplified on social media. The claim was widely debunked by news outlets and the survivors themselves. |
| Origin | The crisis actor concept gained traction in conspiracy circles after the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting and was applied to Parkland in February 2018. |
| Claimed |
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| Evidence / consensus | There is no evidence that the Parkland survivors were actors. The shooting was a real tragedy, and the survivors' advocacy is genuine. |
Sources are external and provided for verification. Listing does not imply the Observer endorses their claims.