The Daily Mail, a known tabloid publication, didn’t hesitate in falsely portraying a group of rappers as members of an Australian street gang.
The bold act of misrepresentation was uncovered by Media Watch, “Australia’s leading forum for media analysis and comment.” The Twitter account for the organization shared a side-by-side photo of the image The Daily Mail Australia used in their story and an image Section Boyz shared on Twitter.
The rap group has a hearty following in the UK and recently collaborated with Chris Brown’s OHB crew on the Attack The Block mixtape.
Hey @DailyMailAU – your APEX gang pic is actually a UK rap band. Which we also we told you about last November. #mediawatchpic.twitter.com/SElOW8NU2s
— Media Watch (@ABCmediawatch) January 31, 2017
Outside of the fact that The Daily Mail blurred the faces of those in the image, both photos are exactly the same.
AD LOADING...
Dangerously enough, the caption for The Daily Mail’s hijacked photo states: “‘What’s stopping them from killing you?’ Victims of Apex Gang say they no longer feel safe in their homes – as Melbourne’s youth crime epidemic soars.”
And according to Media Watch, The Daily Mail was previously warned about such misrepresentation.
“Hey @DailyMailAU – your APEX gang pic is actually a UK rap band. Which we also we told you about last November. #mediawatch,” Media Watch tweeted in the caption to their side-by-side photo.
AD LOADING...
After Media Watch put The Daily Mail Australia on blast with their tweet, it wasn’t long before the rest of Twitter joined in.
Those on the social networking site went on to sarcastically question why The Daily Mail didn’t opt for photos of The Jackson 5 or Fat Albert and crew for their story.
@ABCmediawatch@DailyMailAU Here's another one if you need. pic.twitter.com/TMLa58RAAw
— Sam Kelton (@kelts82) January 31, 2017
.@ABCmediawatch@DailyMailAU but what about these guys pic.twitter.com/dKOabtTSA7
— Saman Shad (@muminprogress) January 31, 2017
@ABCmediawatch@DailyMailAU found them. Problem solved. pic.twitter.com/GvZkRnAgju
— Andrew Dowdell (@Andrew_Dowdell) January 31, 2017
@ABCmediawatch@DailyMailAU APEX GANG pic.twitter.com/9OwJQsPJvH
— Chris Veraa (@chrisveraa) January 31, 2017
@ABCmediawatch@DailyMailAU
I've worked out how they're getting into Australia. pic.twitter.com/u2PNnVmAVe— Adam T Sage (@AdamTrentSage) January 31, 2017
@ABCmediawatch@DailyMailAUpic.twitter.com/m3aDkKijA9
— Johnny (@johnfilson) January 31, 2017