Fake Coldplay concert poster in Manila creates false rumor

(Updated Dec. 15, 10:30 a.m.)  Rumors that British rock band Coldplay will hold a concert in Manila have been around for the better part of the year, reason why a fake concert "poster" that supposedly confirmed the 2012 gig caused quite a stir among the excited, and later on, disappointed fans.

 

A photo made the rounds over social networking sites Sunday afternoon showing a polished, professional-looking poster that tagged the concert, “Viva Manila,” a play on the words of Coldplay's album, “Viva La Vida.” 

 

The concert, according to the poster, will be held on April 18 next year at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

 

MTV was shown to headline the project, with footnotes that included Smart Telecommunications, Ticketnet and Manila-based concert promoter Dayly Entertainment.

 

Hoax

Dayly Entertainment, on its Twitter page issued a statement Sunday, denouncing the concert and their supposed involvement in the event.

 

They also uploaded a screencapped Facebook status of the "poster"'s source. Student Roe Alfaro, in a disclaimer made over Facebook, said the poster was just a requirement for his Computer Graphics class and it was "not intended to spread any rumors."

 

Dayly is claiming they are now being questioned for "false marketing by different organizations including the Coldplay management" because the company logo appeared on the poster.

 

In a Facebook reply to a user who suggested taking legal actions, Dayly Entertainment said "we are pushing." 

 

In an email to GMA News Online, however, Dayly Entertainment said the group will, for now, focus on clearing up the issue and their company's name. They also said they have not heard anything from Alfaro.

 

Alfaro decided to keep mum about the issue and resolve the misunderstanding privately. He apologized for unintentionally creating the false rumor, as he said on Facebook: "I know it's a bit disappointing for pushing up your hopes. I'm a fan of Coldplay too. I just want them here as much as you want them too. Anyway, I'm so sorry this kind of thing happened."

 

Lesser chances

Dayly said the incident may affect the chances of bringing Coldplay to the country.

 

Alfaro's poster has earlier convinced fans including events manager Teddy Dario and radio disc jockey Andi Manzano that Coldplay was indeed coming to Manila. 

 

Dario even replied to inquiring fans that the concert was "confirmed" and that it was an "MTV Philippines event." He, along with others, retracted their own postings upon learning it was a hoax.

 

“Coldplay in Manila” even landed on Twitter’s top trending topics in the Philippines and, as of posting, is the 3rd top trending topic on PHL Twitterverse.

 

Think before you click  

Alfaro posted his photo on a private blog, but an accessible link got out and eventually spread widely to reach even celebrities.

 

Netizens are arguing that a photo of such nature should not have been posted on the Internet at all, but some are sympathizing with Alfaro for an "honest mistake" that just went "horribly wrong."

 

Others, on the other hand, were quick to conduct their own research and noted that the band's official website clearly indicated Coldplay will indeed perform in another country–but in Canada on April 18, 2012. –KG, GMA News