Recent social media rumors claimed that rioters set Disney World’s Cinderella Castle on fire, following an article by Mouse Trap News. This report suggested the incident occurred on Friday, stating that firefighters were impeded by rioters and fought the blaze throughout the night while guests watched the event unfold. The article further alleged that these rioters were protesting climate change and likened their actions to previous vandalism incidents at Stonehenge and the Mona Lisa.
The report claimed, “These people don’t care about historic landmarks or paintings and want to destroy them for the sake of activism,” and noted that “unfortunately, police didn’t arrest any of the rioters who set Cinderella Castle on fire.”
A video shared by Mouse Trap News, which purportedly showed the fire, also gained attention. One viewer commented, “Wow! Can’t believe they made it past security,” while another wrote, “They had to make room for the new attractions. Paying the rioters is cheaper than hiring a company to do it.” A third person stated, “These climate protesters need to be arrested and pay for any damages and rebuilding.”
However, this news is completely false. Mouse Trap News explicitly states in its “About” section that it is “the world’s best satire and parody site.” It continues, “We write fake stories about Disney Parks stuff. From Disney Park announcements to Disney Hotel and resort news to made-up Disney partnerships, you can be assured that anything you read here is not true, real, or accurate, but it is fun.”
Earlier this year, Mouse Trap News falsely reported that Cinderella Castle had been destroyed in a fire. Last month, it also claimed that Disney World had banned all tattoos in its theme parks.