Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Super Bowl Called Out For Misrepresenting How NFLer-Turned-Soldier Pat Tillman Actually Died

Pat Tillman in his NFL days; Pat Tillman's official military photo
Gene Lower/Getty Images; U.S. Department of Defense

The former NFL star was killed in Afghanistan in 2004 after joining the military following 9/11—but the NFL left out key details surrounding how he died.

Social media users called out the National Football League (NFL) for misrepresenting the circumstances behind former football player-turned-soldier Pat Tillman's death after Super Bowl LVII opened with an Army propaganda segment praising Tillman for his self-sacrifice by dying “in the line of duty" in Afghanistan in 2004.

The supposed tribute to Tillman—who was killed in Afghanistan in 2004 after joining the military following the terror attacks of September 11, 2001—was also soured by the fact four Pat Tillman Foundation scholars were chosen to be the coin-toss captains to determine which team would start with the ball.


At no point did the video mention the United States Army initially reported Tillman was killed by enemy fire when in fact Tillman was shot three times in the head from less than 10 yards away by friendly fire.

The Pentagon didn't notify Tillman's family he'd been killed by fire from his own side until late May 2004, weeks after his memorial service.

Nor did the video mention Tillman was killed not long after calling the War in Iraq "so f**king illegal" while in conversation with a friend or that he planned to meet with anti–Vietnam War activist Noam Chomsky but died before he could.

Many who watched the Super Bowl with no prior knowledge of Tillman were actively misled by the segment, which of course did not note that members of Tillman's unit burned his body armor and uniform in an apparent attempt to hide the fact that he was killed by friendly fire and destroyed his journal, which included his thoughts on the war in Afghanistan.

The extensive coverup that followed Tillman's death included the military's order to Tillman's comrades to lie to his family at the funeral. Tillman's family has been sharply critical of the Army, which they charge lied and interfered with the investigation into Tillman's death so as not to hurt their image and recruitment efforts.

Tillman's brother, Kevin, testified before Congress in 2007 that the "deception surrounding this case was an insult to the family, but more importantly, its primary purpose was to deceive a whole nation" and that the family had "been used as props in a Pentagon public relations exercise.”

Many suggested the segment is proof the military is continuing to lie about Tillman's death to generate support for unjust wars.




Tillman's story is chronicled in Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman, by writer Jon Krakauer. Tillman's mother, Mary Tillman, also wrote a book about her son, Boots on the Ground by Dusk. A documentary, The Tillman Story, was released to critical acclaim in 2010.

The NFL and U.S. military's propaganda appears to have worked on the right-wing, including QAnon adherent and failed Arizona Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, who called Tillman "one of the greatest Arizonans to ever live" in a tone-deaf tweet.

More from Trending

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Cheryl Hines
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Showering RFK Jr. Bizarrely Photobombs Wife Cheryl Hines As She Promotes Beauty Products

Conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—President-elect Donald Trump's Department of Health and Human Services secretary pick—was bizarrely featured showering behind his wife, actor Cheryl Hines, as she attempted to promote her Hines + Young beauty products and a "Make America Healthy Again" candle.

Hines, best known for her starring role on Curb Your Enthusiasm, appeared amused by what she referred to as a “content interruption” in text at the top of the clip.

Keep ReadingShow less
Tracy E. Gilchrist; Ariana Grande
Out.com, Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images

Ariana Grande Reacts To Video Of 'Holding Space' Reporter Poking Fun At Her Viral Interview

Pop star Ariana Grande responded to a journalist who poked fun at the singer's sweet gesture seen during the viral "holding space" interview.

LGBTQ+ journalist Tracy E. Gilchrist from Out magazine interviewed Grande and her Wicked costar Cynthia Erivo, and she apprised the leading ladies of Wicked about people embracing the lyrics from the climactic song at the end of the two-part film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, loosely based on characters from Wizard of Oz.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pete Hegseth; Donald Trump
Roy Rochlin/Getty Images; Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

Old Clip Of Pete Hegseth Slamming Trump As 'All Bluster' Resurfaces—And Now It's Awkward

Over the past few weeks, President-elect Donald Trump has been announcing his choices for his 2nd presidential administration. His choice for Secretary of Defense is Fox News host Pete Hegseth.

But a resurfaced video of Hegseth sharing his thoughts during the 2016 presidential campaign may sour his popularity with Trump and his MAGA minions.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Ted Cruz
Fox News

Ted Cruz Tries To Mock 'Morning Joe' Hosts For Trump Visit—And Gets Hit With Brutal Reminder

After Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz appeared on Fox News and made a crass joke about Morning Joe hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski's recent trip to Mar-a-Lago, he was instantly called out for his hypocrisy on social media.

Cruz's comments followed the revelation by Scarborough and Brzezinski—two of the most outspoken cable news critics of President-elect Donald Trump during the 2024 election campaign—that they had met with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate for clear-the-air discussions. The meeting marked their first face-to-face interaction in seven years.

Keep ReadingShow less
A young woman sitting and crying on stone steps
woman in black and white dress sitting on concrete stairs
Photo by Zhivko Minkov on Unsplash

People Break Down The Most Brutal Awakenings They've Ever Had In Their Life

We've all been faced with a "rude awakening" at some point in our lives.

Perhaps none more universal than becoming an "adult" and learning the responsibilities of paying rent and bills and no longer relying on our parents.

Keep ReadingShow less