Dennis Quaid's 'on-set meltdown' was a Funny or Die prank


Earlier this week, a video of Dennis Quaid's alleged "on-set meltdown" hit the internet. It had all the hallmarks of a classic viral video: a recognizable name, an embarrassing rant, and a slew of colorful insults. In fact, it all seemed a little too perfect; as journalists researched the story, and realized they couldn't even identify the film set on which Quaid snapped, many concluded that the video was a pre-planned hoax.
The skeptics were right — the video was staged. But despite widespread speculation, the video did not originate with late-night prankster Jimmy Kimmel; it originated with comedy site Funny or Die. The full video, which Funny or Die released today, reveals the true subject of Quaid's rage, who he memorably called "Dopey the Dick" in the original video:
As always, never forget the number one rule of the internet: don't believe everything you see.
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Scott Meslow is the entertainment editor for TheWeek.com. He has written about film and television at publications including The Atlantic, POLITICO Magazine, and Vulture.
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