Is the “Glory to Urine” Billboard in New York Real? – In recent days, an intriguing and somewhat amusing story took the internet by storm. The phrase “Glory to Urine” started trending on social media, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), after videos of it allegedly appearing on a billboard in the iconic Times Square of New York City went viral. Initially, many users assumed it was a misspelling of “Glory to Ukraine,” intended as a welcome message for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was in the USA for the United Nations General Assembly. However, as the story unfolded, it became clear that the viral “Glory to Urine” billboard was, in fact, a cleverly crafted hoax.
Dismantling the Myth: Astoundingly Fake ‘Glory to Urine’ Billboard in New York Exposed
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The Viral “Glory to Urine” Billboard
Two digital news outlets, Not The Bee and The Blaze, initially reported on the supposed misspelled message. Their articles gained traction, fueling the viral sensation. However, it was soon revealed by New Yorkers that the viral video and images were fake, and no such banner had ever been displayed anywhere in New York City.
NBC News’ senior reporter Ben Collins personally visited the site at the intersection of 42nd and 8th in downtown Manhattan, debunking the viral video in real-time. He pointed out that the scaffolding visible in the fake clips was conspicuously absent in reality, and he highlighted how the reflection in the footage indicated digital manipulation.
Glory to the urine !
There was a greeting message for Zelenski's arrival in New York. But instead of Glory to Ukraine, the flag read Glory to urine .
The company that owns the screen explained that the error was caused by an intelligent system that compared the yellow color… pic.twitter.com/B2jzXZFIBh
— Sprinter (@Sprinter99800) September 21, 2023
The Truth Behind the Hoax
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The “Glory to Ukraine” message was intended for President Zelenskyy, who did receive a warm welcome from a New York-based company. However, the misspelling of “Glory to Urine” was nothing more than a digital prank that caught the attention of online media outlets before the truth emerged. Both Not The Bee and The Blaze published articles based on the erroneous information but later removed them once the hoax was exposed.
Markian Kuzmowycz (@markiank), an X user, contributed to debunking the fake content by visiting the billboard site himself. He confirmed that no such message was displayed on the Times Square billboard and explained that the scaffolding, a prominent feature in the fake clips, was missing. This observation, along with the digital reflection, provided concrete evidence of manipulation.
RU info ops doing the fake ad in Times Sq. thing, yet again, claiming a pro-UKR ad today reads "Glory to Urine", shared by top RU war correspondent WarGonzo. I snapped a photo of that intersection of 42nd/8th, where there's no scaffolding. Video manipulated, not remotely recent. pic.twitter.com/US6qIwGv3A
— Markian Kuzmowycz 🌻 (@markiank) September 21, 2023
Ben Collins’ Investigation
Ben Collins of NBC News also visited the corner in person and called out those who had fallen for the hoax. In a sarcastic video, he praised the “ingenuity of American construction workers” and humorously pointed out how the entire cityscape had supposedly transformed within hours. He noted that the visible infrastructure in the fake video bore no resemblance to the pizza and apparel stores that were present at the same spot in reality.
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“You know where it said ‘Glory to Urine’ this morning, and all that scaffolding was there and all that stuff was different? Now it’s just all gone, and they put in new, entirely new businesses, all today. So really good work, America. I’m very proud of us,” he quipped.
I just want to thank the absolute morons who got "Glory to Urine" trending.
They were able to shine a light on a New York miracle: the construction and grand opening of an entire pizza restaurant in six hours.pic.twitter.com/qEnUiV6iys
— Ben Collins (@oneunderscore__) September 21, 2023
The Origin of the Hoax
While it remains unclear who initially posted the video or image and when it was captured, it was evident that the content was not recent. Some X users claimed that the fake content first appeared on Russian websites such as War Gonzo and suggested it may have been propaganda amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
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Additionally, the logo of Fox News Digital, which appeared in the deceptive image and video, was revealed to be digitally altered. Fox News confirmed that they were not responsible for the viral content.
Will deepfakes make it almost impossible to tell what's real?
This video is spreading like wildfire on social media claiming that a billboard ran in NY City with the words "Glory to Urine" on it instead of "Glory to Ukraine."
This is a deepfake. This billboard never displayed… pic.twitter.com/VltQEldPHO
— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) September 21, 2023
Expert Comment
In light of this bizarre incident, it’s essential to remain vigilant and critical of information we encounter on the internet. This hoax serves as a reminder that not everything shared on social media is accurate or reliable. Always verify sources and double-check the authenticity of viral content before accepting it as fact. As we navigate the digital age, discernment is our greatest asset.
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“Instances like these highlight the importance of media literacy and fact-checking in today’s information landscape. The rapid spread of misinformation and hoaxes can have real-world consequences. It’s crucial to cultivate a critical mindset and employ fact-checking tools to ensure the accuracy of the information we consume.”
This bizarre episode of the “Glory to Urine” billboard in New York City serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us of the need to verify information and exercise discernment in the digital age. While the internet can be a source of valuable information, it also presents opportunities for deception, making it essential to approach viral content with a critical eye.