AP Fact CheckFact-checkingMore Incorrect Claims About Ron DeSantis’ High School Yearbook Quote Debunked by Madison Thomas July 11, 2023 written by Madison Thomas July 11, 2023 5 comments Bookmark 82 ALLEGATION: Under the high school yearbook photo of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, there’s a quote stating: “My Mount Rushmore is Jesus, Sir-Mixes-a-Lot, and Nintendo 64.” AP’S EVALUATION: False. The image displaying DeSantis’ high school yearbook entry was manipulated to insert the quote. An official from the school district supervising DeSantis’ former school confirmed to The Big Big News that while the photo is real, there is no accompanying quote. THE DETAILS: The manipulated image is being circulated on social media, with users implying that the Republican presidential candidate had peculiar preferences during his adolescence. ADDITIONAL NEWS Manipulated video suggests President Biden was audibly sniffing a child Misleading headline propagates false information about Madonna’s health status The World Economic Forum hasn’t proposed eradicating fashion for a global ‘uniform’ No, COVID-19 vaccines have not been discontinued in Europe The photo shows a young DeSantis with the alleged “Mount Rushmore” quote underneath. The typo-ridden “Sir-Mixes-a-Lot” is a nod to the rapper Sir-Mix-a-Lot, best known for his 1992 hit, “Baby Got Back.” A tweet garnering over 32,000 likes read: “’Sir-Mixes-a-Lot’ should automatically disqualify you from running for office.” A Facebook post sarcastically suggested: “Six-Mixes-a-Lot, indeed. I’m sure that’s precisely what he penned on his yearbook submission form. He’s thoroughly pitiable in every respect.” However, while the photo is genuine, the quote is not, according to Sean Clark, a spokesperson for Pinellas County Schools, where DeSantis graduated from Dunedin High School in 1997. Clark clarified via email, “The photo is indeed from the Dunedin High School yearbook, but there is no quote under Governor DeSantis’ photo or any other student’s photo within the yearbook.” The unaltered image of DeSantis’ photo first surfaced on Reddit in April, alongside other photos from his high school yearbooks. Neither DeSantis’ office nor his campaign responded immediately to requests for comment on Monday. This work is part of AP’s ongoing initiative to combat widespread misinformation, including collaborations with external entities to provide factual context to deceptive content proliferating online. Learn more about AP’s fact-checking efforts. Table of Contents Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Ron DeSantis’ high school yearbook quoteWhat is the claim about Ron DeSantis’ high school yearbook quote?Is the claim about Ron DeSantis’ high school yearbook quote true?What does the altered image of Ron DeSantis’ high school yearbook suggest?Where did the unedited image of Ron DeSantis’ high school yearbook photo first appear?Has Ron DeSantis’ office or campaign commented on this?More about Ron DeSantis’ high school yearbook quote Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Ron DeSantis’ high school yearbook quote What is the claim about Ron DeSantis’ high school yearbook quote? The claim is that a quote saying “My Mount Rushmore is Jesus, Sir-Mixes-a-Lot, and Nintendo 64” appears beneath Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ high school yearbook photo. Is the claim about Ron DeSantis’ high school yearbook quote true? No, the claim is false. While the photo of Ron DeSantis in his high school yearbook is genuine, the quote beneath it has been added and is not authentic. This has been confirmed by a spokesperson for the school district that supervises DeSantis’ former school. What does the altered image of Ron DeSantis’ high school yearbook suggest? The altered image with the added quote suggests that the Republican presidential candidate had peculiar preferences during his adolescence, including a fondness for the rapper Sir-Mix-a-Lot. Where did the unedited image of Ron DeSantis’ high school yearbook photo first appear? The unedited image of DeSantis’ high school yearbook photo first surfaced on Reddit in April, accompanied by other photos from his high school yearbooks. Has Ron DeSantis’ office or campaign commented on this? As of the time of the article, neither DeSantis’ office nor his campaign have responded to requests for comment on the false yearbook quote. More about Ron DeSantis’ high school yearbook quote AP Fact Check The Big Big News Pinellas County Schools Sir-Mix-a-Lot’s “Baby Got Back” Original Reddit post You Might Be Interested In Florida orders state universities to disband pro-Palestinian student group, saying it backs Hamas Trump set for first public appearances since federal indictment, speaking in Georgia, North Carolina Black Academic Fraternity Abandons Florida Over DeSantis’ Policies for Convention Pence Opts for State-Run Primary Over Nevada Republican Caucus, Forgoing Delegate Opportunity Disney’s New Management and Firefighters at Odds Over Contract Negotiations Trump and DeSantis, Prospective 2024 GOP Contenders, to Join Moms for Liberty Conference fact-checkingFake NewsRon DeSantis Share 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail Madison Thomas Follow Author Madison Thomas is a food journalist who covers the latest news and trends in the world of cuisine. She enjoys exploring new recipes and culinary trends, and she is always on the lookout for new and exciting flavors to try. previous post Mayor of Coastal Oregon City Resigns Following Controversial Facebook Group Posts by Police next post Revealing the Hidden Toll: Unveiling the Number of Russian Casualties in Ukraine You may also like Bookmark 1-2-3 and counting: Las Vegas weddings could hit... December 27, 2023 Bookmark “Anticipating a Record-Breaking New Year’s Eve: Las Vegas... December 27, 2023 Bookmark “Reviving Poinsettias: A Step-by-Step Guide to Keeping Holiday... December 26, 2023 Bookmark AP Sports Photos of the Year: Capturing Timeless... December 26, 2023 Bookmark Unforgettable Moments in Sports: A Pictorial Journey Through... December 26, 2023 Bookmark Serial Killer Terrorizes Detroit Due to Police Missteps... December 26, 2023 5 comments FloridaMom72 July 11, 2023 - 6:58 am Oh dear, I really thought that was a real quote. Just shows you can’t trust everything you see on social media… Reply MikeTheBiker July 11, 2023 - 9:53 am So DeSantis didn’t really say that, huh? Figures… the internet loves to stir up drama. Always check before you share, folks! Reply TrishTheSkeptic July 11, 2023 - 12:07 pm Thats why fact checking is so imporant. We got to question everything we see online. Who knows what they’ll make up next smh… Reply Jessicalovesmusic July 11, 2023 - 1:22 pm Wait, so he didn’t like sir-mix-a-lot?? Or are they just saying he didn’t say that in his yearbook? lol i’m confused… Reply RonnyD_Fan July 12, 2023 - 1:20 am Good to know it’s not real. Ron D’s got enough to deal with, what with running for president and all. Fake news doesn’t help anyone! Reply Leave a Comment Cancel Reply Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ
