Parents prank son, tell him he has Ebola
We're already well aware that Ebola is nothing to joke about.
But when an Ebola prank is made in the privacy of your own home, who's to judge? Tens of thousands of YouTube viewers, that's who.
A short video posted on Wednesday shows what appears to be a family at home, crowded into a hallway. The mom, wearing a mask over her face, is reading the temperature of her tween-age son who stands before her with a doe-eyed fear.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Look at his temperature," she says to the man behind the camera. "Oh hell no," he says. "This one's got Ebola."
The kid immediately lets out a long, painful wail. Well, technically, he breaks down before the dad even says the word "Ebola," but perhaps he'd been prepared for this dire diagnosis. There's no "gotcha!" caught on camera, only the slowed-down version of the boy's tears.
While there's a chance the video is simply a decently acted family skit, I couldn't help but giggle. But you can judge for yourself. --Lauren Hansen
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
More than 2,000 dead following massive earthquake in Morocco
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mexico's next president will almost certainly be its 1st female president
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
North Korea's Kim to visit Putin in eastern Russia to discuss arms sales for Ukraine war, U.S. says
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Gabon's military leader sworn in following coup in latest African uprising
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published