Gaming - News
Kojima Productions Breaks Its Silence on Assassination Hoax
By MARY OSBORNE
Hideo Kojima, the well-known and beloved video game creator, found himself (through no fault of his own) in the center of a horrifying event. After the assassination of Shinzo Abe, the former Prime Minister of Japan, a meme emerged alleging Kojima was the gunman responsible for the crime, as some people online joked that the murderer resembled him.
Some actual news stations believed that Kojima had been identified as the assassin; in fact, one Greek news outlet ran the story unironically, and French politician Damien Rieu also perpetuated the false report. The official Kojima Productions Twitter account posted a simple note on July 9, 2022, condemning the spread of misinformation and threatening legal action.
Responses to the tweet pointed out how misinformation and the spread of information through technology is something Kojima has tackled in his work like “Metal Gear Solid.” Unfortunately, it’s not the first time misinformation about Kojima has circulated online, and fans recalled the time Kojima and actress Ashley Johnson were mistaken as a couple who had a baby together.
