The 1960s had the Merry Pranksters. The 2010's have Twitter's George Weah's Cousin. Social media's most diabolical quote inveneter - the man behind the fake Gary Neville quotes this winter - was back at work last night, with some dasterdly deception timed perfectly for Sunderland's survival/Newcastle's relegation.
Jack Colback upon signing for Newcastle. Oh dear oh dear #Nufc #Safc pic.twitter.com/FilfeBEEqy
— GeorgeWeahsCousin (@WeahsCousin) May 11, 2016
What is it about white text on a black blackground with a club crest affixed in the corner that make words seems so authentic? Colback's 'quotes' on leaving Sunderland for Newcastle spread in a frenzy after 9:30pm last night, and many journalists were victim to the gag.
BBC Sporf were first to give the quotes a morsel of credibility and the situation spiralled downwards from there.
The banter brigade have took it, released it, and now it'll fly. Job done. Now I'm gonna have some chicken strips.
— GeorgeWeahsCousin (@WeahsCousin) May 11, 2016
Soon even James Corden was sharing it with the Carpool Karaoke brigade.
The tweet sparked a rollercoaster of emotion for the BBC's Gabby Logan, who shared the quotes and called Colback a bellend, then deleted that tweet, and then finally offered this clarification.
In the light of news that that is a fake tweet/quote. I have a)removed my rude over emotional response and b)flogged myself with a birch.
— Gabby Logan (@GabbyLogan) May 11, 2016
By the time the sun rose this morning, the quotes had found their way into at least one British tabloid.
James Corden digs out embarrassing Jack Colback quote after Newcastle are relegated https://t.co/NUUlBdqO6O pic.twitter.com/pbmeCPPhr8
— The Sun Football ⚽ (@TheSunFootball) May 12, 2016
And all the while, sitting in front of some laptop screen somewhere, George Weah's Cousin is laughing maniacally, having sold the world another pup.
Quite amused by @WeahsCousin's spectacular ability to reel in thick, plagiarising cunts everywhere
— Mudhutter (@mudhutter) May 12, 2016
When you open twitter and see @WeahsCousin has struck again 😂😂😂👏👏👏
— Matt (@mattcross3) May 12, 2016