**The Viral News Snippet:**

The Viral News Snippet:

HEADLINE: “Patriotic Kenny” Sparks Online Firestorm After “Statue of Liberty Coffin” Photo Surfaces – Fact Check Reveals the Truth

The Claim: A viral image is sweeping across social media showing a man dressed in a full Uncle Sam suit, draped in an American flag, standing next to a coffin covered in the “Statue of Liberty” design. The man has been dubbed “Patriotic Kenny” by users on X (formerly Twitter). The caption accompanying the posts reads: “This is Patriot Kenny. He died waiting for the government to honor its promises. His final request was to be buried wrapped in Lady Liberty. The government said no. He bought his own coffin. God bless America.”

The Viral Spread: The post has received over 15,000 reposts in 3 hours, with users expressing outrage, claiming the government is “desecrating the spirit of patriotism.” One popular comment reads, “They hate him because he loved his country more than they do.”

The Reality Check:

  • What’s Fake: The man in the photo is not “Patriotic Kenny.” His real name is Kenny Roberts, a 34-year-old costume designer from Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is very much alive and well.
  • The Real Story: The image is a still from a satirical music video titled “Coffin of Liberty” by the indie band The Reckoning. The band released a statement today clarifying that the video is a parody critiquing political hypocrisy, not a real funeral.
  • The Coffin: The coffin is a custom-built prop created specifically for the video. It was never a real burial.
  • The “Government Denial”: No government agency denied any such request. The entire narrative is fictional.

Verdict: FAKE. The “Patriotic Kenny” story is a