This correction was so bizarre – it needed to be corrected
America, and the rest of the world, is closely watching the progress of a large body of migrants travelling northwards from Central America; so, when one of their number gave birth, it made the news. Unfortunately, the details were somewhat misreported, leading to this correction.
Let’s take a closer look, shall we?
Now, an elephant typically gives birth after a 24-month pregnancy and a black Alpine salamander after 36 months, but no human has ever maintained a pregnancy for even one year, never mind more than three. We’ve watched Donald Trump make some outrageous unsubstantiated claims about the caravan, but this beats them all.
Buzzfeed reporter Jon Passantino noticed the error.
I think we’re going to need another correction @AP pic.twitter.com/GCy93EUdrO
— Jon Passantino (@passantino) November 3, 2018
One Twitter user had this response.
As someone only 5 months pregnant, I find this correction deeply upsetting. Please tell me I don’t have another 33 months of this.
— Charlotte Hill (@hill_charlotte) November 3, 2018
Whilst others unpicked the broader implications.
Yo, @AP
At 28 weeks, you’re just entering third trimester. At 38 weeks, your baby weighs 6.5 to 6.8 lbs.
At 38 MONTHS — your elephant baby is more than 15 months overdue.— Brenda Flanagan (@FlanaganNJTV) November 3, 2018
This baby is going to be a whopper
— Liam Farrell (@drlfarrell) November 3, 2018
no wonder Trump is terrified
— Noah Shachtman (@NoahShachtman) November 3, 2018
The 13th trimester is always the worst
— The War on Thanksgiving is Real (@SequentAgentMan) November 3, 2018
However, it seems that the anomaly hadn’t exactly jumped out at everyone.
The reason I’m a writer and not an editor is I had to read this like 10 times to find the error.
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) November 3, 2018
Associated Press eventually fixed the report.
Update: They have corrected the correction! pic.twitter.com/rUX2rPgHmQ
— Jon Passantino (@passantino) November 3, 2018
In case you were still worried that this had been some sort of alien child, here she is. Her name is Guadalupe and she was born on Halloween.
All together now – awwwww.
