Was the Balloon Boy Story a Hoax?

Did Falcon Heene's family do it "for the show"?

By U.S. News Staff

October 16, 2009 RSS Feed Print

Thursday afternoon, TV news networks covered a breaking story about a 6-year-old boy trapped in a weather balloon flying hundreds of feet above Colorado—only to find that the balloon was empty, and the boy, Falcon Heene, was in his family's attic the whole time. Questions have arisen about the legitimacy of the incident, especially after the boy, in an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, said, "um, we did this for the show." The Heene family, which has appeared previously on the reality show Wife Swap, denies accusations that the ordeal was a hoax. What do you think? Was it a stunt? Take our poll and post your thoughts below.

Was the Balloon Boy Spectacle a Hoax?



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Previously: Should the Government Increase Social Security Benefits?

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Jabilo of AK 3:54PM March 08, 2010

Why are the media spending so much time on this story? Is it because the media was so anxious to have something new to put on their 24/7 cable news channels. It is really pathetic that you have to cover stories such as the balloon story to the extent that you have. What about the people who died at that sweat lodge in Arizona? That gets little coverage and the balloon story takes top billing. The family is getting just what they intended, lots of media coverage. I really thought some superior minds were in charge of the news outlets, but I now know I was wrong.

Linda of NY 10:21AM October 19, 2009

Felony charges were filed, so it seems likeiy the family will lose some of their assets as compensation for costs to "rescue boy."

aura dawn veirs of CA 2:05AM October 19, 2009

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