Creator of parody conspiracy theory ‘Birds Aren’t Real’ appears to VOMIT on a live news broadcast

The Gen Z creator of the ‘Birds Aren’t Real’ conspiracy theory — which argues that the US government killed billions of birds in the twentieth century and replaced them with surveillance drones — drew attention to the movement on Thursday by vomiting during a live news broadcast.  

Peter McIndoe, 23, appeared on Chicago’s WGN yesterday to discuss the ‘Birds Aren’t Real‘ movement, but less than a minute into the broadcast, he appeared to choke and spew liquid at the screen.

Cameras quickly cut away, and McIndoe has claimed to be embarrassed by the incident — but fans familiar with his brand of humor are calling the stunt ‘genius’ and the ‘ultimate troll interview move.’

Peter McIndoe, 23, appeared on Chicago’s WGN on Thursday to discuss the ‘Birds Aren’t Real’ movement

While being interviewed on a morning newscast, McIndoe appeared to take a sip from a cup of coffee before spewing white liquid and making gagging noises

He apologized and claimed he was ‘nervous,’ and on Instagram he said he was ’embarrassed’ and that he ‘totally messed it up’

The anchors interviewing McIndoe on Thursday were clearly unaware of what they were in for when they cordially welcomed him on the show. 

‘So are there people that find your account and think that it’s real?’ Robin Baumgarten asked him.

Before answering, McIndoe appeared to take a sip from his mug, seemingly setting up the illusion that he was drinking coffee.

‘You know, I think there’s a lot of people who find out social media accounts and see a different side of Gen Z in America. Gen Z is full of amazing men, women, and children are aiming for change and I think that that is just what our group is all about, he told them. 

As co-anchor Larry Potash began asking another question, McIndoe lifted up his mug again, appearing to take another sip.

But he soon appeared to choke and gag, spitting out white liquid in the direction of the screen.

Baumgarten and Potash both paused, and Potash asked McIndoe if he was alright. 

‘I’m so nervous, I’m so sorry,’ McIndoe said, appearing to begin to cry before the shot cut away to B-roll — but more gagging could still be heard int he background. 

The anchors interviewing McIndoe on Thursday were clearly unaware of what they were in for when they cordially welcomed him on the show

Though McIndoe claimed to be mortified by the moment, it hasn’t gained much attention until he posted a full clip of it on the ‘Birds Aren’t Real’ Instagram accoun

Though McIndoe claimed to be mortified by the moment, it hasn’t gained much attention until he posted a full clip of it on the ‘Birds Aren’t Real’ Instagram account.

‘Mortified,’ he wrote. ‘Never imagined this amount of embarrassment was possible. I want to apologize to @wgnnews. I want to apologize to bird truthers everywhere.

‘The one time the media gives us a platform to spread the truth with the public and I totally messed it up. If you all don’t want me to be your spokesman after this I understand,’ he continued. 

‘This is the worst morning of my life. Was feeling nervous and queasy and started panicking when I felt the vomit coming up tried to quiet my chest stuff it down with my coffee but It won the battle and there are no excuses. Sincerely I am sorry for messing up this opportunity for us I promise to do better,’ he concluded.

Yet followers seemed to know that faking vomit on live TV would be McIndoe’s style, and many left congratulatory comments. 

The joke conspiracy theory argues that the US government killed billions of birds in the twentieth century and replaced them with surveillance drones

‘The US government committed mass bird genocide from 1959–2001, murdering 12 billion real birds using a poisonous toxin sprayed from airplanes,’ the organization says

‘Lmao this is the best thing I’ve ever seen thank you,’ wrote one, while another called him a ‘genius.’

‘This is gold honestly,’ wrote yet another, while one more said: ‘The ultimate troll interview move lmfao I am dead. You’re a legend.’ 

Others called him ‘epic,’ a ‘menace,’ and an ‘icon,’ with several joking that the US government poisoned McIndoe to ‘silence’ him. 

According to the ‘Birds Aren’t Real’ movement, the US government is involved in a massive conspiracy to surveil citizens by using robots that look like birds.

‘The US government committed mass bird genocide from 1959–2001, murdering 12 billion real birds using a poisonous toxin sprayed from airplanes,’ the organization says.

‘As the real birds were removed, surveillance drone replicas replaced them. Now all birds in the US are robots.’

The ‘Birds Aren’t Real’ social media accounts assert that their movement was found in 1976 by animal rights activists.

McIndoe said the purpose of the movement is to poke fun at the preponderance of misinformation people are faced with

‘”Birds Aren’t Real” is not a shallow satire of conspiracies from the outside. It is from the deep inside,’ he said

They posit that the drones charge their batteries through charging stations hidden in plain sight, like power lines.

They also claim that bird poop ‘actually a form of liquidated tracking apparatus’ and that it lands mainly on cars to track people’s movements.

While the movement is a parody, ‘adherents’ have joined together for real-life events to promote the cause, including a protest outside of Twitter headquarters in San Francisco, where they demanded that the company change its bird logo. 

Speaking to the New York Times in December, McIndoe said the purpose of the movement is to poke fun at the preponderance of misinformation people are faced with.

He came up with the idea spontaneously at the 2017 as a way to mock pro-Trump protestors at the women’s march that January.

‘Dealing in the world of misinformation for the past few years, we’ve been really conscious of the line we walk,’ he said. ‘The idea is meant to be so preposterous, but we make sure nothing we’re saying is too realistic. 

‘”Birds Aren’t Real” is not a shallow satire of conspiracies from the outside. It is from the deep inside,’ he said. ‘A lot of people in our generation feel the lunacy in all this, and Birds Aren’t Real has been a way for people to process that.’