Authors
A letter allegedly written by Sean Connery to Steve Jobs is making rounds on social media platforms. The typewritten letter dated 11 December, 1998 reads,
“I will say this one more time. You do understand English, don’t you? I do not sell my soul for Apple or any other company. I have no interest in “changing the world” as you suggest. You have nothing that I need or want. You are a computer salesman — I am fucking JAMES BOND. I can think of no quicker way to destroy my career than to appear in one of your crass adverts. Please do not contact me again.”
We received an image of this letter on our Whatsapp verification number. Various social media users have also shared this claim.
This claim surfaced online seven years ago as well.
Fact Check/ Verification
A Google reverse image search of the claim led us to an article by TheVerge.
The Verge article states that the alleged letter written by the late James Bond actor is actually a product of a humour site called Scoopertino.
The Scoopertino article in reference was published in 2011 and titled, “EXPOSED: The iMac disaster that almost was”. It says, “Though Steve had a thing for Sean Connery, the feeling was not mutual. Connery was appalled by the “advert” Jobs sent across the pond and declined to participate in the misadventure on at least three separate occasions.”
Scoopertino’s tagline evident on the site’s top-left corner reads, “All the news that’s fit to fabricate.” And on the top-right reads, “Unreal Apple news.” The website’s About section states that it “is an imaginary news organization devoted to ferreting out the most relevant stories in the world of Apple, whether or not they actually occurred.”
Bottom-right of the section includes the site’s copyright which reads, “© 2010-2019 Scoopertino. All rights reserved. Apple and the Apple logo are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. This site is in no way affiliated with Apple, and frankly we’re insulted that you even asked.”
CNET debunked this claim back in 2011 writing, “The letter was actually part of a satirical article on the previously little known (and very specific) humor site, Scoopertino, which peddles Onion-style and tongue-in-cheek “Unreal Apple News.”
More recently, this claim has been debunked by other fact checkers as well.
This claim resurfaced in the past week after the legendary actor Sean Connery’s death.
Conclusion
The letter purporting James Bond actor Sean Connery’s outrage over Steve Jobs asking him to appear in an Apple commercial is fabricated.
Result: False
Our Sources
The Verge: https://www.theverge.com/2020/11/1/21544566/sean-connery-fake-mean-letter-steve-jobs-apple
Scoopertino: https://scoopertino.com/exposed-the-imac-disaster-that-almost-was/
CNET: https://www.cnet.com/news/fake-sean-connery-letter-to-steve-jobs-goes-viral/
The Quint: https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/sean-connery-did-not-call-steve-jobs-a-computer-salesman
BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-54761824
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