Journey backs Arnel Pineda amid fake news, reaches out to YouTube
Arnel Pineda/Photo by Elton Lugay
NEW YORK — A shocking rumor about Arnel Pineda, the frontman of the iconic rock band Journey, has been debunked as false after a misleading video circulated on YouTube, falsely claiming he was sentenced to life imprisonment in San Francisco.
The sensational video, which improperly used the Fox News logo, ignited outrage among fans and raised concerns about the spread of misinformation online.
Uploaded by a content creator named Niwra just days after the band’s successful end-of-tour concert in Las Vegas, the video quickly gained traction, amassing nearly 700,000 views within just two days. It asserted that Pineda had received a life sentence for alleged abuse.
FILE PHOTO (Photo by Elton Lugay)
“The music world has been left in complete shock today,” stated the misleading video.
However, a thorough fact-check confirmed that Fox News did not report this story, nor did any reputable news outlet validate the claims.
In response to the rumors, Pineda, who gained international stardom after becoming the lead singer of Journey, took to Instagram after followers began inquiring about the alleged court ruling.
Addressing a concerned fan, the Filipino superstar stated, “Well, I’m somewhere nice and the sentence was in Sanfo… do the math.” He clarified that he is currently in Metro Manila, enjoying the local scenery, and shared a video showcasing the beautiful skyline.
Journey gives its full support to Arnel Pineda
When contacted by Inquirer.net USA, Pineda’s manager, Las Vegas-based Yul Session, categorically denied the claims, labeling them as derogatory.
He emphasized that Journey’s management has given Pineda its full support and is taking steps to address the issue, including reaching out to YouTube to request the removal of the misleading content.
Arnel Pineda with Ramona Diaz, the filmmaker behind ‘Don’t Stop Believin: Everyman’s Journey.’ Photo by Elton Lugay
The community response has been overwhelmingly supportive of Pineda. Many fans expressed disbelief and frustration over the spread of false information, with comments on social media ranging from “Good to hear from you” to calls for legal action against the creators of the fake news.
“Don’t people have better things to do?” questioned Miles dela Cruz, a mother of a local singer in Queens, in an interview with Inquirer.net USA. “It’s unfortunate that they’d go to such lengths to destroy a person just for views.”
Local artists and community leaders echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need for vigilance against misinformation. “It’s a fact that many in our community are not adept at distinguishing real news from fake,” added Chris Labaco, a director of Fil-Am events.
Las Vegas-based producer Vic Perez, who has produced and promoted many of Pineda’s US concerts, said the video was part of a smear campaign against the singer.
“I knew right away it was a hoax. Paninira kay Arnel. It’s definitely not part of (Pineda’s) character,” Perez said. “We need to fight fake news.”
Rasmin Diaz, a local singer from New York City, urged people to practice due diligence when consuming media, noting, “We owe it to ourselves to always fact-check.”
This incident underscores the ongoing challenges posed by fake news, particularly in an era where anyone can create content that mimics legitimate news sources.
Vlogger John Baguio advised, “If the news item cannot be verified by any search engine and does not come from a trusted source, the probability is high that it’s fake,” he told Inquirer.net USA.
Last year, Journey – known for blending progressive rock bombast with catchy pop hooks in songs like “Wheel in the Sky,” “Any Way You Want It” and the unforgettable “Don’t Stop Believin'” canceled shows in the UK and Ireland as part of their 50th Anniversary Freedom Tour due to ongoing legal disputes between keyboardist Jonathan Cain and band founder Neal Schon.
In the midst of this turmoil, however, Journey recently completed their anniversary tour, finishing on March 16 at the Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
“Nobody puts on a live show the way Journey does, with their unique blend of music and operatic vocals, add all that up, and you’ve really got something special,” said an avid fan.
The next show is scheduled for July 19 in Canada at the Greenwin Theatre at Meridian Arts Centre in North York.
