A photo of John Fetterman, the outline of South Africa, and Fox News' logo

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FoxNews.com quietly walks back baseless claims about Sen. John Fetterman’s comments on South Africa

Written by Gideon Taaffe & Shelby Jamerson

Published

Fox News' website eagerly pushed baseless claims that Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) referenced “white genocide” when he criticized South Africa for bringing a case to the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide in the Gaza Strip. Fox published the claims — which further a white supremacist narrative — in an online article and then changed the language without a correction.

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  • Fetterman’s comments attacking the case against Israel were misrepresented by racists on X (formerly Twitter) to push a white supremacist narrative

    • While speaking at an event hosted by the Orthodox Union Advocacy Center, Fetterman told the audience that “maybe South Africa ought to sit this one out” in response to the country going to the ICJ to charge Israel for genocide. He called the case “appalling … given the history there.” [Jewish Insider, 1/11/24]
    • Right-wing personalities claimed that this was a reference to the killings of white South African farmers in 2020, which some right-wing figures claimed to be a part of an attempted “white genocide.” However, there is nothing in his original comments to suggest that. The senator later clarified, saying, “The entirety of my point was this: South Africa should instead focus on the spiraling humanitarian crises on its own continent.” [The Independent, 1/11/24, Newsweek, 1/11/24]
    • Since at least 2018, some right-wingers have pushed a white supremacist theory that South Africa is a hotbed of anti-white violence and fearmongered about supposed calls for genocide. There is no evidence that white people have been the victims of excess violence in South Africa. [Media Matters, 8/22/18, 8/22/18, 1/3/24; The Washington Post, 5/15/9; The Guardian, 8/24/18]

  • X users baselessly claimed Fetterman was talking about genocide of white farmers in South Africa

    • Far-right X account End Wokeness: “Holy sh!t Did John Fetterman (D) just call out the White genocide in South Africa?” [Twitter/X, 1/11/24]
    • Right-wing comedian Tim Young wrote, “John Fetterman calls out South Africa for the genocide of white farmers.” He added: “I'm starting to feel bad for mocking him. He can wear hoodies & gym shorts all he wants if he keeps dropping more conservative talking points than people who claim to be ‘conservative’ members of Congress.” [Twitter/X, 1/11/24]
    • The Daily Wire’s Michael Knowles: “John Fetterman (D?-PA) discusses how South African politicians are openly encouraging and tolerating the genocide of white people in South Africa.” [Twitter/X, 1/11/24]
    • Right-wing podcaster Joey Mannarino posted: “John Fetterman is now speaking out against White genocide in South Africa?” He added: “He’s actually better than [2020 GOP Senate candidate Mehmet] Oz would have been at this point.” [Twitter/X, 1/10/24]
    • Breitbart editor Joel Pollak commented on Mannarino’s post, saying, “How ordinary Americans, including many Democrats, interpret what South Africa is doing.” [Twitter/X, 1/11/24]
    • Far-right X influencer Ian Miles Cheong: “Incredible. John Fetterman referenced South Africa’s genocide of white farmers, telling them to sit it out when it comes to their condemnation of Israel.” [Twitter/X, 1/10/24]
    • Right-wing X influencer Chuck Callesto: “JUST IN: Fetterman brings attention to WHITE CHRISTIAN GENOCIDE in South Africa.” He added: “FETTERMAN’S VIEWS HAVE CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY FROM HIS INITIAL CAMPAIGN.” [Twitter/X, 1/11/24]

  • Fox's website cited racists in a story about Fetterman's comments, then quietly changed it without an official correction after the senator's follow-up statement

    • Fox News published a story headlined “Fetterman blasts South Africa 'genocide' case against Israel amid slayings of White farmers.” The story claimed that “Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., torches South Africa over calls for violence against White farmers,” adding, “The senator also referenced what's happening in South Africa regarding calls for violence against White farmers.” The only evidence the piece offered to connect Fetterman’s comments to South African farmers was a post on X by Tim Young. [FoxNews.com, via archive.today, 1/11/24]
    • The initial article also highlighted the film Farmlands which the writer called a “documentary” by “conservative activist Lauren Southern.” Southern is a white nationalist-affiliated provocateur and her film showcased the alleged ongoing violence against white people in South Africa. [FoxNews.com, via archive.today, 1/11/24; Media Matters, 3/6/18; The Atlantic, 10/20/20]
    • The article also includes statistics from AfriForum, a racist group that pushes misleading claims of possible white genocide. The Fox article described AfriForum as “a non-profit civil rights organization,” while Heidi Beirich of the Southern Poverty Law Center has called the group white supremacists “in a suit and tie.” [FoxNews.com, via archive.today, 1/11/24; CNN, 11/18]
    • After Fetterman made his clarifying statement, Fox quietly updated the headline to read, “Fetterman blasts South Africa 'genocide' case against Israel amid unrest, crime: 'Sit this one out.'” The line “The senator also referenced what's happening in South Africa regarding calls for violence against White farmers,” the reference to Lauren Southern, and the inclusion of Young's post on X were removed. The article has no correction and the statistics from AfriForum remain. [FoxNews.com, 1/11/24]