I keep seeing this ridiculous Facebook page Quack Attack Nation popping up in my newsfeed, and what blows me away is how many people in the comments are taking their nonsense as fact. Their latest post claimed that head coach Dan Lanning had issued a lifetime ban to a supposed team member after discovering they were celebrating the death of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk on the University of Oregon campus. According to the post, Lanning allegedly declared that neither the individual nor their family would ever be allowed near Ducks events again.

This fabricated story even comes dressed up like a polished news article. They wrote about a “controversy” erupting when photographs supposedly surfaced on social media showing a spectator gleefully mocking Kirk’s death. Their narrative claimed the individual was tied to the Ducks, that Lanning was informed late Sunday, and that by Monday morning he had prepared a stern public response. They even scripted a fake press conference where Lanning declared, “Neither the individual nor their family will ever be allowed near our events or games again. There is no place for disgrace, no place for the mocking of tragedy, and no tolerance for behavior that undermines the values we stand for as a program.” The entire thing was fiction, yet dressed up with quotes and details as if it were fact.

Here is the truth. None of that ever happened. Dan Lanning never banned a player. Charlie Kirk was not mocked by a Ducks team member. The post from Quack Attack Nation is a made up story designed to stir outrage, gain clicks, and confuse people. At the time of writing, the post already has over 800 reactions and 58 shares, and the page itself has more than 6000 followers. That shows how quickly misinformation can spread, even if it is not technically viral.

This is not the first time they have pulled something like this. In another post that did go viral with over 27,000 reactions on Facebook, Quack Attack Nation falsely claimed that the Oregon Ducks left an empty seat in memory of Charlie Kirk. Their story said there was a golden plaque engraved with the words “Forever with the Ducks – Charlie Kirk” shining among the crowd as a permanent reminder of his legacy. This touching story never happened either. It was another complete fabrication meant to mislead people for clicks and shares.

According to their Facebook page, Quack Attack Nation is not even Oregon based. They list their location as New York and describe themselves as a “news and media website.” Their contact email is [email protected].

What did happen is tragic and well documented. Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed on Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem. A 22 year old suspect has been charged in connection with the shooting. On Saturday, after Oregon’s win over Northwestern, Dan Lanning spoke in his postgame conference about the assassination and about the state of the country.

He said the nation could learn from the unity inside his locker room, where people of different races, backgrounds, and beliefs come together in respect and love. He called Kirk’s death evil, spoke about how his heart breaks for Kirk’s widow and children, and emphasized the need for common sense on both sides of the gun violence debate. Lanning explained that he had to sit down with his own children and tell them what happened which is something no parent should have to do. He even noted that while he did not agree with everything Kirk said, he respected him as a person, and it was disappointing that somebody else could not.

This is the real story. These are Lanning’s actual words, spoken in front of reporters, carried by major outlets, and backed by video. Compare that to Quack Attack Nation’s phony claims about Ducks players being banned for life or empty seats being reserved in memory of Kirk. One is a matter of public record, the other is total fiction.

And before anyone tries to say “well you write satire too,” yes, we do, but there is a big difference. Our satire is always clearly placed under the “Satire” category so readers know it is parody. It is lighthearted humor meant to entertain and poke fun, never to trick people into believing fabricated events. Most importantly, we never exploit tragedy for clicks. We will never use a death or a national tragedy as the basis for a fake story because that crosses a line. Satire should make you laugh or think, not mislead you into believing that a coach banned one of his players or that the Ducks staged a memorial that never actually happened.

If you follow Quack Attack Nation, it is time to reconsider. Oregon fans deserve better than fake scandals and manufactured drama. Stick with real reporting, and when it is satire, make sure it is the kind that is honest about being satire.