Fox News has a dodgy reputation among the general populace. But what they did is currently getting them slandered online.
They confidently reported that Hall of Famer Frank Thomas had passed away in 2023. This left people confused and shocked.
So, has Frank Thomas really died? Is Fox News right?
Fox News accidentally featured former Chicago White Sox player Frank Thomas in an in-memoriam segment, wrongly suggesting he had passed away. This mix-up occurred as the network intended to honor another Frank Thomas, a former baseball player who died at 93 in January 2023. Frank Thomas, the Big Hurt, is indeed alive and in good health at the age of 55.
Why Did Fox News Claim That Frank Thomas Died? Did He Actually Pass Away?
In a rather unfortunate mix-up, Fox News aired an in-memoriam segment during The Faulkner Focus show that mistakenly displayed former Chicago White Sox player Frank Thomas as deceased.
The incident left both the viewers and the living Frank Thomas taken aback.
Thomas took to social media to clarify that he was very much alive and expressed his shock at Fox’s irresponsibility. He said on his Twitter/ X page:
“Ladies and Gentlemen, I’m very sorry my ex-employer Fox would be this irresponsible on National TV this morning. Yes I’m alive and doing well. This blows my mind also.”
Fox News anchor Julie Banderas later issued an on-air correction, acknowledging the error and explaining that they had confused Frank Thomas with another former baseball player who shared the same name and passed away at the age of 93 in January 2023.
Ultimately, she said, “We apologize for that mistake.”
Who Is Frank Thomas?
The living Frank Thomas (55), known as the Big Hurt, enjoyed a successful career in Major League Baseball.
He was drafted by the White Sox in 1989 and went on to hit 448 home runs over 15 years. His career culminated with the White Sox’s World Series victory in 2005. Thomas also had stints with the Oakland Athletics and Toronto Blue Jays before retiring in 2010.
What set Frank Thomas apart during his time in baseball was his clean image regarding performance-enhancing drugs. Unlike many of his peers from the late 1990s, Thomas was never suspected of using such substances.
Frank Thomas’s post-retirement career took him to Fox Sports, where the expert worked as a studio analyst starting in 2013.
However, earlier this year, he was replaced by Derek Jeter. Despite this transition, the confusion caused by the network’s mix-up with another Frank Thomas briefly thrust him back into the spotlight, reminding everyone that he is very much alive and well.
What was your reaction to the mix-up by Fox News? Did you find it funny? Or was it offensive and unprofessional?
Let us know your opinions in the comments below.
