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| Internet gasps as Mark Zuckerberg celebrates July 4 by posting video of himself wake-foiling while holding American flag | Internet gasps as Mark Zuckerberg celebrates July 4 by posting video of himself wake-foiling while holding American flag |
| (2 months later) | |
| Americans finally found a source of unity, with left and right alike cringing after Mark Zuckerberg posted an Independence Day video of himself holding a US flag while gliding above the water to the tune of a John Denver song. | Americans finally found a source of unity, with left and right alike cringing after Mark Zuckerberg posted an Independence Day video of himself holding a US flag while gliding above the water to the tune of a John Denver song. |
| The one-minute video, which was posted Sunday on the Facebook CEO's Instagram account, shows Zuckerberg riding a wake foil – also known as a hydrofoil surfboard – on what appears to be a lake. He was holding an American flag, which was attached to a short pole, and Denver's 1971 hit 'Take me Home, Country Roads' was playing in the background. Zuckerberg added a comment, saying only "Happy July 4th." | The one-minute video, which was posted Sunday on the Facebook CEO's Instagram account, shows Zuckerberg riding a wake foil – also known as a hydrofoil surfboard – on what appears to be a lake. He was holding an American flag, which was attached to a short pole, and Denver's 1971 hit 'Take me Home, Country Roads' was playing in the background. Zuckerberg added a comment, saying only "Happy July 4th." |
| The bizarre scene was quickly met with astonished reactions as social media users collectively cringed. "We need a 'erase your memory of this' option," a writer known as the Hoarse Whisperer said on Twitter, adding, "I wish they could bring John Denver back to life just so he could sue Mark Zuckerberg for this." | The bizarre scene was quickly met with astonished reactions as social media users collectively cringed. "We need a 'erase your memory of this' option," a writer known as the Hoarse Whisperer said on Twitter, adding, "I wish they could bring John Denver back to life just so he could sue Mark Zuckerberg for this." |
| Other social media users wished for a new version of the scene, such as one who noted a "disturbing lack of sharks in this video" and another who tweeted, "I need a deep-fake version where he plows into the side of a dock." Others expressed regret at having seen the video. | Other social media users wished for a new version of the scene, such as one who noted a "disturbing lack of sharks in this video" and another who tweeted, "I need a deep-fake version where he plows into the side of a dock." Others expressed regret at having seen the video. |
| Observers of all political stripes mocked the Big Tech billionaire. "Here is Mark Zuckerberg proving he's not just richer than you, he's more patriotic," left-wing writer Matthew Yglesias said. | Observers of all political stripes mocked the Big Tech billionaire. "Here is Mark Zuckerberg proving he's not just richer than you, he's more patriotic," left-wing writer Matthew Yglesias said. |
| Alternative media journalist Luke Rudkowski quipped, "Extremist alert," apparently alluding to suggestions that flag-wavers are likely to be far-right politically, as the New York Times intimated in an article on Saturday. | Alternative media journalist Luke Rudkowski quipped, "Extremist alert," apparently alluding to suggestions that flag-wavers are likely to be far-right politically, as the New York Times intimated in an article on Saturday. |
| Newsletter writer David Roberts said Zuckerberg has an instinct for "finding the maximally douchey thing to do at every juncture." LGBTQ activist Leah McElrath agreed, saying, "It's breathtaking." | Newsletter writer David Roberts said Zuckerberg has an instinct for "finding the maximally douchey thing to do at every juncture." LGBTQ activist Leah McElrath agreed, saying, "It's breathtaking." |
| Some critics seized the opportunity to accuse Zuckerberg of cracking down on free speech on his platform. | Some critics seized the opportunity to accuse Zuckerberg of cracking down on free speech on his platform. |
| "Mark Zuckerberg loves America," conservative writer Ian Miles Cheong said. "He damn sure does – so much that he cares enough about wrong-think and takes the time to censor and 'fact-check' ideas from Americans and everyone else," another commenter replied. | "Mark Zuckerberg loves America," conservative writer Ian Miles Cheong said. "He damn sure does – so much that he cares enough about wrong-think and takes the time to censor and 'fact-check' ideas from Americans and everyone else," another commenter replied. |
| While Zuckerberg's video might have backfired as a PR stunt, it at least gave Americans a rare topic on which they could agree. "Mark Zuckerberg may have united the left and right in America – just not in the way he planned," said Vasabjit Banerjee, an international studies professor at Mississippi State University. | While Zuckerberg's video might have backfired as a PR stunt, it at least gave Americans a rare topic on which they could agree. "Mark Zuckerberg may have united the left and right in America – just not in the way he planned," said Vasabjit Banerjee, an international studies professor at Mississippi State University. |
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