copenlu/druid huggingface dataset:
Claim: Claims that Thomas Jefferson once said, "The reason Christianity is the best friend of Government is because Christianity is the only religion that changes the heart." (Viral Quote, 2019-08-08)
Evidence (2023-09-29): —Isaiah Berlin "A union of government and religion tends to destroy government and degrade religion. The history of governmentally established religion, both in England and in this country, showed that whenever government had allied itself with one particular form of religion, the inevitable result had been that it had incurred the hatred, disrespect and even contempt of those who held contrary beliefs. That same history showed that many people had lost their respect for any religion that had relied upon the support of government to spread its faith." [...] —Thomas Jefferson, 1780 "He who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it much easier to do it a second and third time, till at length it becomes habitual; he tells lies without attending to it, and truths without the world’s believing him. This falsehood of the tongue leads to that of the heart, and in time depraves all its good dispositions." [...] —Thomas Jefferson, 1802 "Where everyman is … participator in the government of affairs, not merely at an election one day in the year but every day … he will let the heart be torn out of his body sooner than his power be wrested from him by a Caesar or a Bonaparte."
Claim: Claims that Thomas Jefferson once said, "The reason Christianity is the best friend of Government is because Christianity is the only religion that changes the heart." (Viral Quote, 2019-08-08)
Evidence (2019-05-13): Evangelical Christians have claimed that Washington accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior, though there isn't evidence of this specific belief aside from Washington's rare mention of the figure of Christ, often in relation to morality, in public speeches. [...] Like the other Founding Fathers, Jefferson was considered a Deist, subscribing to a liberal religious strand that values reason over revelation and rejects traditional Christian doctrines, including the Virgin Birth, original sin and the resurrection of Jesus. While he rejected orthodoxy, Jefferson was nevertheless a religious man. Influenced by the British Unitarian Joseph Priestley, Jefferson set his prodigious intellect and energy on the historical figure at the center of the Christian faith: Jesus of Nazareth. [...] When he ran for the presidency in 2000, Bush offered himself as a candidate who promised to restore honor and Christian morality to the White House. He won the support of evangelical and conservative Christians with his openness and willingness to discuss his faith, including a memorable exchange during the Republican primaries. Candidates were asked to name their favorite philosopher, and Bush answered simply, "Christ, because he changed my heart." The moderator responded, "I think the viewer would like to know more on how he's changed your heart." Bush replied: "Well, if they don't know, it's going to be hard to explain. When you turn your heart and life over to Christ, when you accept Christ as a savior, it changes your heart and changes your life. And that's what happened to me."
Claim: Claims that Thomas Jefferson once said, "The reason Christianity is the best friend of Government is because Christianity is the only religion that changes the heart." (Viral Quote, 2019-08-08)
Evidence (2023-06-30): "The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: that it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity." [...] Thomas Jefferson, Founding Father, 3rd President of the US, and a theistic rationalist, stated: "The reason that Christianity is the best friend of government is because Christianity is the only religion in the world that deals with the heart."
Claim: purports AMC is preventing moviegoers from seeing the new film, 'Sound of Freedom' (Video, 2023-07-12)
Evidence (2023-07-12): Both AMC Theatres CEO Adam Aron and Angel Studios, the studio that made the film, have released statements denying the claim.
Claim: purports AMC is preventing moviegoers from seeing the new film, 'Sound of Freedom' (Video, 2023-07-12)
Evidence (2023-07-19): A video shared on Facebook purports AMC Theatres is preventing moviegoers from seeing the new film, "Sound of Freedom," citing air conditioning issues as its reason for refunding tickets in several cities. [...] "Hollywood can’t stand that The movie Sound of Freedom is doing well at the box office. AMC theatres have refunded tickets in several cities siting [sic] the AC wasn’t working Really? In different cities? Seems sus," text overlay on the video purports. "The movie has been banned in parts of Canada and the mainstream media have barely covered anything to do with the movie. Why??," the claim continues. The video has been shared over 400 times as of writing. [...] — Adam Aron (@CEOAdam) July 12, 2023 "We understand there are rumors—predominantly in social media—that AMC theaters have made it difficult for fans to see SOUND of FREEDOM in local AMC theaters, and we want to make it clear these rumors are not accurate," a similar statement from Brandon Purdie, the head of Angel Studios’ Theatrical Distribution, said in a Jul. 13 press release published on the studio’s website.
Claim: purports AMC is preventing moviegoers from seeing the new film, 'Sound of Freedom' (Video, 2023-07-12)
Evidence (2023-07-21): A theater didn’t put ‘nanobots’ into drinks of ‘Sound of Freedom’ moviegoers. The tweet was a joke CLAIM: A movie theater worker tweeted that he was fired after he refused to add a mysterious liquid that turned out to contain "nanobots" into the drinks of customers watching "Sound of Freedom." [...] "I work at AMC and just got fired for refusing to add this liquid to a customer soda," the tweet’s text reads. "We were instructed specifically to serve this to Sound of Freedom audiences. I am a microbiology student and took it to the lab to examine and sound. what looks like nano bots inside."
Claim: purports AMC is preventing moviegoers from seeing the new film, 'Sound of Freedom' (Video, 2023-07-12)
Evidence (2023-07-11): Theories that AMC has sabotaged screenings of The Sound of Freedom by shutting off air conditioning, evacuating the theater or refunding tickets have gone viral among right-wing social media users, though the company denies it has interfered with screenings. In one viral TikTok, a user claims she pre-ordered tickets to see The Sound of Freedom at a North Carolina AMC location, but her tickets were refunded because the theater lacked air conditioning. The user said she was permitted to attend the screening anyway but criticized the company for allegedly not notifying ticketholders about the reason for the refund. Heavyweight boxer David Niño Rodriguez tweeted his experience watching the film at an AMC was "horrendous" because the volume was turned "all the way down to nearly inaudible." Rodriguez asked his followers to share their stories of AMC allegedly ruining the experience at Sound of Freedom screenings, in which several users claimed to also have had issues at the theater. AMC CEO Adam Aron denied these allegations on Twitter, calling them conspiracy theories. Some viral tweets by right-wing users also claim mainstream media outlets are attempting to sabotage or censor the film. "CNN is demanding no one see Sound of Freedom," one viral tweet claims, though a CNN news segment attached to the tweet does not contain this claim. [...] Further Reading ‘Sound of Freedom’ is a box office hit whose star embraces QAnon (The Washington Post)
Claim: purports AMC is preventing moviegoers from seeing the new film, 'Sound of Freedom' (Video, 2023-07-12)
Evidence (2023-08-14): 'Sound of Freedom' director Alejandro Monteverde addresses controversies: 'Breaks my heart' [...] As "Sound of Freedom" continues its stunning theatrical run in more than 2,800 theaters, the Mexican film director, whose 2006 film "Bella" won the People's Choice Award at Toronto Film Festival, is addressing the controversies swirling around his movie. [...] New controversy for 'Sound of Freedom': Film funder charged with accessory to child kidnapping "Sound of Freedom" was shot in 2018 for 21st Century Fox, but was shelved when Disney acquired the studio in 2019.
Claim: purports AMC is preventing moviegoers from seeing the new film, 'Sound of Freedom' (Video, 2023-07-12)
Evidence (2023-07-13): The CEO of major U.S.-based cinema chain AMC Theatres has dismissed claims that his company was stopping screenings of the film Sound of Freedom as "garbage." [...] And a third wrote: "@AMCTheatres are leaving lights on and air conditioning off during screenings of "Sound of Freedom" to keep patrons from seeing this important film. Happening at all AMC theatres. We will turn AMC Theatres into Bud Light." [...] Sound of Freedom filmmakers at Angel Studios dismissed claims AMC was "suppressing" screenings of the movie.
Claim: purports AMC is preventing moviegoers from seeing the new film, 'Sound of Freedom' (Video, 2023-07-12)
Evidence (2023-07-14): The CEO of AMC Theatres, Adam Aron, and Angel Studios, the distributor of Sound of Freedom, have criticised conspiracy theorists claiming that AMC are purposely disrupting Sound of Freedom screenings. [...] Supporting AMC, the studio released a statement. Brandon Purdie, the head of theatrical distribution said: "We understand there are rumours - predominantly in social media - that AMC theatres have made it difficult for fans to see ‘Sound of Freedom’ in local AMC theatres, and we want to make it clear these rumours are not accurate." "Angel studios and the producers of ‘Sound of Freedom’ are asking our fans to support AMC, and all of our other theatrical partners," he added. "We ask that anyone attending a screening of ‘Sound of Freedom’ show kindness to their local theatre staff."
Claim: purports AMC is preventing moviegoers from seeing the new film, 'Sound of Freedom' (Video, 2023-07-12)
Evidence (2023-07-14): Like Jim, users of TikTok have also suggested that someone is trying to stop people from seeing Sound of Freedom. TikTok user @jamskillet recalled his experience at an AMC theater on July 4, and explained that when he bought his tickets online the movie was nearly sold out. He then goes on to claim that when he arrived at the movie theater, the room was nearly empty. [...] Another TikTok user, by the name @bleighve1112 , allegedly had a similar experience at an AMC location in Pineville, N.C. She claims that her party pre-ordered tickets to Sound of Freedom, but received a refund prior to the start of the film. The TikToker claims they later arrived at the theater and were told that their showing was cancelled because there was no air conditioning in the screening rooms. [...] AMC Theaters CEO, Adam Aron, has since slammed reports that claim the company is limiting showings of Sound of Freedom. He addressed the conspiracies in a statement posted to Twitter, writing, "Yesterday we showed that movie 3,000 times at our 570 U.S. theatres, and more than 100,000 people watched it." He went on to suggest that the rumors were simply "misinformation."
Claim: purports AMC is preventing moviegoers from seeing the new film, 'Sound of Freedom' (Video, 2023-07-12)
Evidence (2023-07-12): Such criticism hasn’t stopped people from flocking to theaters: to date, Sound of Freedom has grossed $40 million at the box office, with many of its defenders framing it as yet another lightning rod in the culture wars and accusing mainstream theaters of suppressing the film (the CEO of AMC, for his part, has denied this, calling such rumors "really bizarre"). Yet one demographic has expressed concern about the film’s tremendous popularity: the anti-child trafficking experts who Sound of Freedom is ostensibly about. [...] Contrary to claims made by some defenders of Sound of Freedom, no one is denying the existence of child trafficking, or its horrors. Those who have devoted their lives to protecting children and fighting those seeking to exploit them know firsthand that child trafficking is not only real, but that the reality may be even more horrific than what is depicted onscreen in big-budget thrillers. Their hope is that viewers of Sound of Freedom who are moved by the film connect with legitimate organizations to learn the truth about what child trafficking looks like, and how they can help. "You don’t have to manufacture conspiracy theories about child sexual abuse," says Huizar. "There are plenty of facts at hand that dont involve spreading horrible rumors about Wayfair or pizza restaurants."
Claim: purports AMC is preventing moviegoers from seeing the new film, 'Sound of Freedom' (Video, 2023-07-12)
Evidence (2024-10-08): - ^ "AMC Theatres CEO slams 'Sound of Freedom' conspiracy theories about screening disruptions as 'garbage'". NBC News. July 13, 2023. Retrieved July 14, 2023. - ^ Cercone, Jeff; Muñoz, Nuria Diaz (July 14, 2023). "Studio behind 'Sound of Freedom' rejects claim AMC is sabotaging movie screenings". Politifact. Retrieved July 16, 2023. [...] - ^ Rose, Steve (August 22, 2023). "'The film the woke Nazis don't want you to see!' How the culture wars made Sound of Freedom a blockbuster". The Guardian. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
Claim: purports AMC is preventing moviegoers from seeing the new film, 'Sound of Freedom' (Video, 2023-07-12)
Evidence (2023-07-08): Studio behind ‘Sound of Freedom’ rejects claim AMC is sabotaging movie screenings [...] "We understand there are rumors—predominantly in social media—that AMC theaters have made it difficult for fans to see Sound of Freedom in local AMC theaters, and we want to make it clear these rumors are not accurate," said Brandon Purdie, head of Angel Theatrical Distribution. [...] Social media claims allege that AMC Theatres is intentionally sabotaging screenings of "Sound of Freedom" to keep people from seeing the film.
Claim: purports AMC is preventing moviegoers from seeing the new film, 'Sound of Freedom' (Video, 2023-07-12)
Evidence (2023-07-13): Social media users have accused AMC of purposely disrupting "Sound of Freedom" screenings following accusations that the hit film stokes QAnon conspiracy theories. Rolling Stone, for instance, slammed "Sound of Freedom" as a "QAnon-tinged thriller." [...] Angel Studios is behind the "Sound of Freedom" release and used a "Pay It Forward" app to encourage moviegoers to buy tickets for others to see the film. About $2.6 million of opening day sales were earned through this method. The studio released a statement stressing to fans that AMC is supporting "Sound of Freedom." "We understand there are rumors — predominantly in social media — that AMC theaters have made it difficult for fans to see ‘Sound of Freedom’ in local AMC theaters, and we want to make it clear these rumors are not accurate," Angel Studios’ head of theatrical distribution Brandon Purdie said.
Claim: purports AMC is preventing moviegoers from seeing the new film, 'Sound of Freedom' (Video, 2023-07-12)
Evidence (2023-07-24): The newly-released film Sound of Freedom has been surprisingly successful at the box office. The movie was notoriously shelved for years. And, now that the behind-the-scenes story has made the rounds online, new reports are being made. According to some moviegoers, their theaters are sabotaging showings of Sound of Freedom. [...] Top studio exec: "We have come across the absurd internet posts regarding AMC’s alleged suppression of Sound of Freedom. Angel Studios fully stands with you and AMC in complete solidarity. No other theater chain in the world has shown more support for Sound of Freedom than AMC." [...] Sadly, conspiracy theorists are so prevalent in America. So much garbage information is spread. More than ONE MILLION people have watched Sound of Freedom at AMC Theatres. More than at any other theatre chain on the planet. Yet people falsely claim otherwise. It is so bizarre.
Claim: purports AMC is preventing moviegoers from seeing the new film, 'Sound of Freedom' (Video, 2023-07-12)
Evidence (2023-07-12): The team behind Sound of Freedom has rejected claims that a movie theater chain is "suppressing" people from seeing the film. Multiple videos have gone viral across social media, suggesting viewers are being forced out of seeing Sound of Freedom at AMC Theatres venues via different means. One TikTok user claimed her theater was evacuated without explanation while another said the AC was broken in their screening making it "unbearably hot." [...] The movie Sound of Freedom stars Jim Caviezel and is produced by Angel Studios. It tells the story of Tim Ballard and his journey to save children from sex trafficking through the creation of the organization Operation Underground Railroad.
Claim: purports AMC is preventing moviegoers from seeing the new film, 'Sound of Freedom' (Video, 2023-07-12)
Evidence (2023-07-13): Conspiracy theories involving viewer suppression of the film Sound of Freedom continue even as the film was top-three in last weekend's box office gross sales. [...] "Really bizarre [fear, uncertainty and doubt] floating around Twitter that we are suppressing attendance for Sound of Freedom," Aron tweeted on Saturday. "Yesterday we showed that movie 3,000 times at our 570 U.S. theatres and more than 100,000 people watched it @AMCTheatres. Misinformation on Twitter is astonishing. Bots? Haters?" [...] "So much garbage information is spread," Aron wrote. "More than ONE MILLION people have watched Sound of Freedom at AMC Theatres. More than at any other theatre chain on the planet. Yet people falsely claim otherwise. It is so bizarre."
Claim: purports AMC is preventing moviegoers from seeing the new film, 'Sound of Freedom' (Video, 2023-07-12)
Evidence (2023-07-14): Since Sound of Freedom premiered in theaters on July 4, conspiracy theories have spread online claiming AMC theaters are purposely sabotaging showings of the film since it was accused of having ties to the QAnon movement. AMC CEO Adam Aron shut down the rumors in a tweet shared Wednesday (July 12). "Sadly, conspiracy theorists are so prevalent in America. So much garbage information is spread," he tweeted. "More than ONE MILLION people have watched Sound of Freedom at AMC Theatres. More than at any other theatre chain on the planet. Yet people falsely claim otherwise. It is so bizarre." [...] "We understand there are rumors—predominantly in social media—that AMC theaters have made it difficult for fans to see SOUND of FREEDOM in local AMC theaters, and we want to make it clear these rumors are not accurate," said Brandon Purdie, head of Angel Studio’s theatrical distribution. Purdie maintained AMC has been an "outstanding partner."
Claim: purports AMC is preventing moviegoers from seeing the new film, 'Sound of Freedom' (Video, 2023-07-12)
Evidence (2023-07-19): ‘Sound of Freedom’ audience members claim theaters are sabotaging showings [...] Several moviegoers have claimed that movie theaters are intentionally sabotaging showings of the controversial film "Sound of Freedom" by either forgetting to dim the lights, or in at least one case, turning off the air conditioning in the theater. [...] "Really bizarre FUD [fear, uncertainty and doubt] floating around Twitter that we are suppressing attendance for Sound of Freedom," tweeted Aron. "Yesterday we showed that movie 3,000 times at our 570 U.S. theatres and more than 100,000 people watched it @AMCTheatres. Misinformation on Twitter is astonishing. Bots? Haters?"
Claim: purports AMC is preventing moviegoers from seeing the new film, 'Sound of Freedom' (Video, 2023-07-12)
Evidence (2023-07-13): AMC Theatres CEO Adam Aron and "Sound of Freedom" distributor Angel Studios have joined forces to quell a boycott against the exhibition chain over the release of the Jim Caviezel action movie. Social media users have accused AMC of purposely disrupting "Sound of Freedom" screenings following accusations that the hit film stokes QAnon conspiracy theories (Rolling Stone, for instance, slammed "Sound of Freedom" as a "QAnon-tinged thriller"). Claims include AMC canceling screenings and disrupting showtimes with technical difficulties and broken air conditioning. [...] Angel Studios is behind the "Sound of Freedom" release and used a "Pay It Forward" app to encourage moviegoers to buy tickets for others to see the film. About $2.6 million of opening day sales were earned through this method. The studio released a statement stressing to fans that AMC is supporting "Sound of Freedom." "We understand there are rumors — predominantly in social media — that AMC theaters have made it difficult for fans to see ‘Sound of Freedom’ in local AMC theaters, and we want to make it clear these rumors are not accurate," Angel Studios’ head of theatrical distribution Brandon Purdie said. "AMC has been an outstanding partner for Angel Studios, and in fact, as a result of the movie’s performance and consumer demand, AMC has agreed to add additional screens for ‘Sound of Freedom’ this weekend."
Claim: purports AMC is preventing moviegoers from seeing the new film, 'Sound of Freedom' (Video, 2023-07-12)
Evidence (2023-07-28): Sound of Freedom was attracting controversy long before its release. Finished in early 2018, the film was bought by Fox, and then when Disney acquired Fox it immediately shelved the film. Right away, that gave the movie a kind of forbidden, subversive appeal. Eventually, the distribution rights were sold to Angel Studios, a company in Utah that produced the Christian historical drama The Chosen. Since Sound of Freedom started showing in theaters, some viewers have alleged instances of sabotage intended to prevent them from seeing the film. This week, Sound of Freedom broke $100 million in revenue. Last week, former President Donald Trump held a screening at his golf club in New Jersey, where, channeling Paris Hilton, he called it "the hottest movie anywhere in the world." On Tuesday night, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy held a screening of the movie for members of Congress. [...] Although the movie doesn’t depict anything particularly graphic, the subject of child abuse is still difficult to watch dramatized on the big screen. It was upsetting. But so was talking about it afterward with other audience members, many of whom seemed convinced that some significant number of their countrymen condone child trafficking. Sound of Freedom, in other words, is just the latest flash point in an apparently endless culture war that encourages Americans to believe the absolute worst about one another.
Claim: purports AMC is preventing moviegoers from seeing the new film, 'Sound of Freedom' (Video, 2023-07-12)
Evidence (2023-08-05): In recent weeks, multiple videos that have gone viral across social media suggested that viewers were forced out of seeing Sound of Freedom at AMC Theatres and Regal Cinemas venues for various reasons. One TikTok user said her theater was evacuated without explanation, while another said the air conditioning was broken during the screening, making the theater "unbearably hot." [...] In a trio of Twitter posts, Adam Aron, CEO of AMC Theatres, rejected rumors that his chain was in any way "suppressing" the release of Sound of Freedom. [...] The team behind Sound of Freedom has also rejected allegations that the movie theater chain is sabotaging people's attempts to view the film.