The bizarre real story behind Theodore Barrett's wife vs the rumours
Theodore Barrett’s wife did not die in a tragic car accident, as many online users once believed. The rumour originated from a satirical 2008 video by The Onion featuring a fake White House press secretary who coldly addressed his wife’s death while prioritising work. Even today, the mysterious aura surrounding that press conference continues to spark curiosity across the internet.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Theodore Barrett’s wife never existed; she was a fictional character from a 2008 The Onion parody video.
- Barrett’s supposed children, Bobby and Megan, were completely made up for the parody.
- The video’s realism caused widespread online confusion, with many mistaking the skit for genuine news coverage.
The truth behind Theodore Barrett's wife's 'accident'
In the 2008 satirical video by The Onion, “Deputy Press Secretary” Theodore Barrett calmly announced his wife’s passing during a fake White House briefing, saying:
Uh, good morning, everybody. Apologies for being late. My wife just died, all right, we've got a lot on the agenda today, so let's begin at noon. The president will be meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki via video teleconference, and the purpose of this meeting is to discuss some of the security issues surrounding the newly appointed Iraqi government officials.
When a reporter expresses sympathy, Barrett replies matter-of-factly that the pain was unlike anything he had ever experienced before, but they had a lot to do that day:
Yeah, well, as you might expect, the Pain is unlike anything I've ever experienced before, but uh, we've got a lot to do today, so let's keep moving. Okay, Mora.
A later question – “What happened to Janie?” – is answered bluntly:
I mean, uh, Jim, what happened was she died. There was a car accident, we can't just bring the entire nation to a halt because of it, so does anybody have a question for the president? Yes.
The rest of the briefing continued in the same tone, leaving viewers unsettled by how the personal tragedy was treated with such clinical detachment. At one point, a reporter even asked, “Was there any mention by the president about Kim Jong E’s latest statements regarding North Korea’s nuclear facilities?”
Well, I'm afraid I can't answer that at this time, uh, I was not at the president's briefing this morning. I was identifying my wife's body at that time; however, I will find out more about the subject and be happy to answer any questions about it later in the day. Okay, moving on.
Source: UGC
The briefing maintained its cold, businesslike tone, even as another reporter asked, “Do you need anyone to talk to or someone to help you with anything?”—to which Barrett replied:
Uh, people, this subject is not on the agenda today. Believe me, there’s nothing I’d like more than to drop down behind this podium and weep, but I can’t do this. Why? Because I’m a grown man, I’ve got a job to do, and so do you. So I’ll take one more question on the matter of my wife, and then we’re moving on. Okay, Wilson.
The press conference grew increasingly uncomfortable when a reporter asked, “Have you told Bobby and Megan yet?” but Barrett brushed it off and continued addressing government issues.
Is Theodore Barrett’s video real?
Source: UGC
The clip is a satirical creation by The Onion, fictional and intended for humour rather than real journalism. Fact-checkers confirm it was never a genuine press event. India Today identified it as ‘a work of fiction made by a satirical website called The Onion.’
Is Theodore Barrett a real person?
Theodore Barrett, the White House Press Secretary, is fictional, created by The Onion’s creative team. In reality, no White House official has ever had that name.
In 2008, President Bush’s press office was led by Press Secretary Dana Perino, with deputies such as Tony Fratto.
Fratto’s wife, Judy, and their children, Antonio and Juliette, were not involved in any accident. These facts further disprove the Barrett story.
Where are Theodore Barrett's kids?
Theodore Barrett’s supposed children, Bobby and Megan, do not exist outside The Onion sketch. In the video, they are said to be injured and hospitalised, but since neither Theodore Barrett nor his family are real, no such children exist.
FAQs
- What happened to Ted Barrett’s wife? Ted Barrett’s wife supposedly died in a car accident, but this event was fictional and part of a satirical video.
- Was Theodore Barrett’s wife’s accident a true story? The accident never happened; it was fabricated for a 2008 parody video by The Onion.
- Is Theodore Barrett a real person? Theodore Barrett is not a real person; he was a fictional character created for satire.
- Was Theodore Barrett the real White House Press Secretary? Theodore Barrett was not a real White House Press Secretary. He was a fictional character created by The Onion for a 2008 satirical video that mocked political news conferences.
- Who created the Theodore Barrett video? The Onion, a satirical news outlet, produced and released the Theodore Barrett video in 2008.
- Where are Theodore Barrett's kids? Theodore Barrett’s kids, Bobby and Megan, do not exist; they were fictional characters mentioned in the same parody video.
The story of Theodore Barrett’s wife remains one of the most misunderstood internet myths. Many viewers believed the 2008 video was a real White House briefing, but reliable fact-checks confirmed it was a scripted sketch by The Onion.
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Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
