The scandalous tale of Kate Mosque

August 23, 2006 9:34 AM

It's on the Internet, so it must be true.Are hundreds of Muslims in the East Village infuriated by a topless poster of Kate Moss across the street? See what happens when one blog says so, and various media around the world (1, 2, 3... you get the idea) take the meme and run with it. Trouble is, it didn't really happen.
posted by laz-e-boy (24 comments total)

Why would anybody be offended? This is Kate Moss we're talking about. It's not as though she actually has anything to reveal if she takes her top off.
posted by Faint of Butt at 9:39 AM on August 23, 2006 [2 favorites]

Man, I can't believe hundreds of Muslims are getting bent out of shape about this!
posted by notmydesk at 9:39 AM on August 23, 2006

Did you hear that the NYTimes Travel section posted secret security camera info so that al Qaeda can bomb Rumsfeld?

It's truthy!
posted by sonofsamiam at 9:46 AM on August 23, 2006

Wow. I love the way that the Toronto Fashion Monitor article (the last link) flows so easily from "Kate Moss infuriates Muslims" to:

"Meanwhile, Kate Moss is reportedly planning to marry rocker Pete Doherty after he bought her a diamond engagement ring."

*gasps* *clasps hands together in front of mouth in excitement*
posted by Stauf at 9:57 AM on August 23, 2006

Corrected second link.

Crazy muslims, I shall go break some windows forthwith, and they shall feel the infinite heat of my rage. 'Tremble before my migh..' Oh it didn't happen you say. Bugger. I've 20 mils of now impotent rage. Off to ebay I guess.
posted by econous at 10:00 AM on August 23, 2006

I, for one, am glad SOMEBODY is monitoring the world of Ontario fashion.
posted by StrasbourgSecaucus at 10:01 AM on August 23, 2006

Corrected second link.

Wanna try that again?
posted by mds35 at 10:01 AM on August 23, 2006

If you're located in the East Village, you've forfeited your right to ever be offended by anything. :)

[I love the East Village.]
posted by bim at 10:07 AM on August 23, 2006

A blogger reports something and it's totally wrong? No way. That can't happen! The blogosphere is the new media!
posted by drstein at 10:26 AM on August 23, 2006

Did you hear that the NYTimes Travel section posted secret security camera info so that al Qaeda can bomb Rumsfeld?

That was a lovely story.
posted by smackfu at 10:38 AM on August 23, 2006

Something false on the intarweb? That's unpossible!
posted by clevershark at 10:58 AM on August 23, 2006

I wonder if these papers will post a retraction.
posted by chunking express at 11:00 AM on August 23, 2006

People offended? Duh. Kate Moss is FUGLY!!
posted by tkchrist at 11:03 AM on August 23, 2006

Someone definitely needs to order a full burqa and beat the shit out of scourge Kate Moss:

"Men are in charge of women, because Allah hath made the one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their property (for the support of women). So good women are the obedient, guarding in secret that which Allah hath guarded. As for those from whom ye fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them. Lo! Allah is ever High, Exalted, Great."
Quran 4:34
posted by The Jesse Helms at 11:10 AM on August 23, 2006

A blogger reports something and it's totally wrong?

No, actually (assuming the huffingtonpost story itself is correct), the blog story was correct, it was just distorted by the other media. The story reported by the original blog was essentially, "Kate Moss topless poster across street from mosque; Muslims worshipping there might conceivably be offended." The papers cited misreported it as "Muslims worshipping there are offended."

That said, the huffingtonpost story engages in its own distortion, which is not much different than the distortion it complains about. The title of the huffingtonpost story is (in part) "...How Rumor And Speculation Becomes Reported Fact Around The World." While the story itself identifies six papers which have misrepresented the story. Six. Out of what, tens if not hundreds of thousands of newspapers published around the world every day? That hardly justifies the conclusion "mainstream media is irresponsible and not to be trusted" that the post would have us believe.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 11:43 AM on August 23, 2006

That hardly justifies the conclusion "mainstream media is irresponsible and not to be trusted" that the post would have us believe.

Try my link, then.
posted by sonofsamiam at 11:45 AM on August 23, 2006

Look up "offensive" in any dictionary.

A picture of a naked Kate Moss appears after "ant:"
posted by wfc123 at 11:47 AM on August 23, 2006

Reminds me of this guy's fake beheading media test.
posted by TimeTravelSpeed at 12:13 PM on August 23, 2006

Wait, I didn't think Muslim men were bothered with seeing another man's bare chest? Oh. You mean Kate Moss is a woman? Wow! Who'd of thunk it? She looks like a fourteen year old boy fresh out of a Bosnian refugee camp.
posted by nlindstrom at 1:46 PM on August 23, 2006

That mosque and billboard are 7 blocks from my apt. If those mosque attendees aren't raising hell about the 3,500 scantliy clad hot girls who walk by their door every summer day , then they probably haven't noticed the billboard.
posted by Liquidwolf at 2:07 PM on August 23, 2006

Slightly NSFW, but I personally think Kate Moss is hot. If fourteen year old Bosnian boys at refugee camps really look like Kate, sign me up fpr relief work.
posted by Chasuk at 6:34 PM on August 23, 2006

Wow Chasuk, I don't know what you're smoking, but really, you should tip your dealer well next time you see him. He's clearly giving you the good stuff.

(How is a topless picture "slightly" not safe for work? Oh, right. She looks like a boy.)
posted by nlindstrom at 6:59 PM on August 23, 2006

So, I think Kate Moss is hot, and you apparently don't, and this is evidence tht I smoke illicit substances? Where did you learn the rules of logic?

As for "slightly" NSFW, I guess it depends on where you work. Goatse.cx isn't safe anywhere (well, maybe it is in some mysterious location, but I wouldn't want to work there). Non-pornographic androgynous nipples aren't particularly threatening where I work, especially since the invention of the "back" button.
posted by Chasuk at 9:07 PM on August 23, 2006

"OMG! Mr. Boss, it's not what you think. That link was supposed to show fourteen year old boys!"
posted by ryanrs at 2:21 AM on August 24, 2006