Spanish reporter apologizes after Star Wars symbol used for al-Qaeda
A Spanish reporter showed that he didn't know his Jedi from his jihad when he mixed up two quite unrelated symbols.
During TVE's morning news show La Mañana on Monday, one reporter got his fact and fiction a bit confused.
The show was focused on discussing the Paris terror attacks that killed 129 people on Friday and went on to give details about France launching strikes against Isis stronghold Raqqa in Syria.
While explaining the history of the city, reporter Jota Abril says that "it was one of the first cities taken in 2013 by terrorist groups, but terrorist groups from al-Qaeda," pointing to a black symbol with what looks like al-Qaeda written below it.
But that black symbol represents a different kind of fighter group - Luke Skywalker's fictional Rebel Alliance that combats Darth Vader's forces in the Star Wars films.
The mistake was spotted by Matthew Bennett of The Spain Report on Monday morning, who tweeted about the error.
Spanish state broadcaster TVE used Star Wars Rebel Alliance logo for Al Qaeda this morning. https://t.co/7k7v0kqfTR pic.twitter.com/709MBvaZFk
— Matthew Bennett (@matthewbennett) November 16, 2015
Abril apologized on Twitter for the mistake, saying: "This morning I confused a logo in an explanation during the programme. My own fault. I am sorry if it offended anyone."
Esta mañana he confundido un logo durante una explicación en el programa. Culpa mía. Lo siento si ha podido ofender a alguien.
— Jota Abril (@JotaAbril) November 16, 2015
But the apology was too late. A Vine of his flub has been seen more than 50,000 times and mockery continued to pour in on Twitter.
Para TVE ayer la Alianza Rebelde de Star Wars eran terroristas y hoy aparece el Emperador George Bush. Todo cuadra. pic.twitter.com/fmWGSRMCOC
— Jedi Keating (@Franatico5) November 17, 2015
"For TVE yesterday, the Rebel Alliance from Star Wars were terrorists and today it appears that George Bush is the Emperor. Everything adds up."
Gracias a @tve_tve por enseñarnos que Al Qaeda es en realidad la Alianza Rebelde de Star Wars. Siempre lo sospeché. pic.twitter.com/ZeAHJumMqa
— Riot Madrid (@riotmadrid) November 17, 2015
"Thank you to TVE for teaching us that Al Qaeda is in reality the Rebel Alliance from Star Wars. I always suspected it."
Some did offer support, with one Twitter user writing in response to Abril's apology that "I don't believe you were the ultimate one responsible, Jota. I don't believe it. A hug: I know that what is happening is terrible".
@JotaAbril No me creo que tú seas el último responsable, Jota. No me lo creo. Un abrazo; sé que lo estás pasando fatal.
— Latanace (@Latanace) November 16, 2015
It seems that the mix-up may have occurred because of a reggaeton record label called Alqaeda Inc, whose logo uses the Rebel Alliance symbol, and appears to be the same as the image Abril chose.
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Posted by Alqaeda'Inc. on Thursday, April 5, 2012
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During TVE's morning news show La Mañana on Monday, one reporter got his fact and fiction a bit confused.
The show was focused on discussing the Paris terror attacks that killed 129 people on Friday and went on to give details about France launching strikes against Isis stronghold Raqqa in Syria.
While explaining the history of the city, reporter Jota Abril says that "it was one of the first cities taken in 2013 by terrorist groups, but terrorist groups from al-Qaeda," pointing to a black symbol with what looks like al-Qaeda written below it.
But that black symbol represents a different kind of fighter group - Luke Skywalker's fictional Rebel Alliance that combats Darth Vader's forces in the Star Wars films.
The mistake was spotted by Matthew Bennett of The Spain Report on Monday morning, who tweeted about the error.
Spanish state broadcaster TVE used Star Wars Rebel Alliance logo for Al Qaeda this morning. https://t.co/7k7v0kqfTR pic.twitter.com/709MBvaZFk
— Matthew Bennett (@matthewbennett) November 16, 2015
Abril apologized on Twitter for the mistake, saying: "This morning I confused a logo in an explanation during the programme. My own fault. I am sorry if it offended anyone."
Esta mañana he confundido un logo durante una explicación en el programa. Culpa mía. Lo siento si ha podido ofender a alguien.
— Jota Abril (@JotaAbril) November 16, 2015
But the apology was too late. A Vine of his flub has been seen more than 50,000 times and mockery continued to pour in on Twitter.
Para TVE ayer la Alianza Rebelde de Star Wars eran terroristas y hoy aparece el Emperador George Bush. Todo cuadra. pic.twitter.com/fmWGSRMCOC
— Jedi Keating (@Franatico5) November 17, 2015
"For TVE yesterday, the Rebel Alliance from Star Wars were terrorists and today it appears that George Bush is the Emperor. Everything adds up."
Gracias a @tve_tve por enseñarnos que Al Qaeda es en realidad la Alianza Rebelde de Star Wars. Siempre lo sospeché. pic.twitter.com/ZeAHJumMqa
— Riot Madrid (@riotmadrid) November 17, 2015
"Thank you to TVE for teaching us that Al Qaeda is in reality the Rebel Alliance from Star Wars. I always suspected it."
Some did offer support, with one Twitter user writing in response to Abril's apology that "I don't believe you were the ultimate one responsible, Jota. I don't believe it. A hug: I know that what is happening is terrible".
@JotaAbril No me creo que tú seas el último responsable, Jota. No me lo creo. Un abrazo; sé que lo estás pasando fatal.
— Latanace (@Latanace) November 16, 2015
It seems that the mix-up may have occurred because of a reggaeton record label called Alqaeda Inc, whose logo uses the Rebel Alliance symbol, and appears to be the same as the image Abril chose.
Posted by Alqaeda'Inc. on Thursday, April 5, 2012
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