All hijinks... ever
These are projects carried out over the years by the Yes Men and their student and organizational partners.
For a timeline of when and why they occurred, see our timeline (coming soon). For why we did certain actions, and how well we think they succeeded, see our press pages. For the full, gory stories behind actions, take a peek behind the curtain.
Occupy Wall Street actions
Zuccotti Square in Manhattan was occupied in September 2011, the result of a whole lot of local organizing (and not, as some have claimed, the result of a call in Adbusters magazine).
Here's the story of how we first found ourselves drawn in to…
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The Water is Safe To Drink
Official-looking stickers, chillingly assuring that the water is "most likely safe," appeared above public faucets throughout New York. The stickers, and the website they refer to, were created in order to alert people to just what would be at stake…
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The Alberta Tar Sands is ... Mordor?
A fuzzy cell phone video of an Elijah Woods sighting in Alberta, Canada. A fake Alberta Film website touting the advantages of filming at the Tars Sands. A fake production company website, a gossip video blog, an angry press release by the Tolkien…
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GE Returns Billions to Public Coffers... Not
When GE announced that the company would return its illegitimate (but legal) $3.2 billion tax refund, and that they would lobby to close the sort of corporate tax loopholes that had allowed them to skip taxes in the first place, it seemed too good…
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Apple Goes "Conflict Free"
On behalf of Apple, students from the New School in New York, adovocacy group Friends of the Congo, and the Yes Lab, launched a fake Apple website announcing an exciting new ethical product from the hip computer giant: the iPhone4-CF.
"CF" stands…
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Chevron's $80 million ad campaign gets flushed
A simple leak blossomed into a frenzy and then another — all of it hilariously fun, albeit stressful — that ended up destroying Chevron's profoundly misguided ad campaign. Browse the videos, releases, and press to the right, or read our full account…
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Fake websites
Videos
These are videos that reveal actions, are used within actions, or come out of actions.
For standalone shorts, see our movies page.
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Behind the curtain
Photos
Fake press releases
These are fake press releases used in our actions.
Note: we always reveal our fakes in short order — and that's what distinguishes these from the bad kind of fakes. For why we did certain actions, and how well we think they succeeded, see our press pages.
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Bank of America Denounces Hoax, Will Not Need Bailout, Warns Public Not To Be Confused By “YourBofA.com” Fraud
The malicious website (YourBofA.com) that is fraudulently representing itself as a Bank of America re-branding effort is misleading the public; those behind it will be prosecuted to the fullest extent the law allows.
CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr. 18, 2012-- A website…
Associated Hijinks: Your B of A
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Bank of America Corporation has added a news release to its Newsroom.
Bank of America Announces “Your Bank of America” Campaign, Partnership with Taxpayers to Revamp U.S. Banking
Date(s): 18-Apr-2012 9:00 AM
As future clouds, opportunities arise for public synergy
CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr. 18, 2012-- Bank of America today announced the launch of an unprecedented campaign…
Associated Hijinks: Your B of A
See also:
Finished news piece!
McDonald's promo!
Videos of people claiming their Happy Meal!
Associated Hijinks: Three Strikes, You're In!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Three Strikes, You’re In!
McDonald's and the New York Police Department Launch Joint Initiative
New York, New York (March 6, 2012) - McDonald's and the New York Police Department are launching "Three Strikes, You're In!," a bold new program that rewards New Yorkers for their patience with the NYPD's "Stop and Frisk" policy.…
Associated Hijinks: Three Strikes, You're In!
PATRIOTS FOR SELF-DEPORTATION
www.SelfDeport.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACTS:
E-mail: Stephen Winter, Selfdeport@gmail.com
Phone: (717) 585-0628
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/search/realtime/SelfDeport
AUSTIN (November 18, 2011) The grassroots organization Patriots for Self-Deportation, formed last year in response to legislative inaction on the issue of birthright…
Associated Hijinks: Patriots for Self-Deportation
Peabody Energy (NYSE: BTU) Announces "Coal Cares™" Initiative, New Nationwide Campaign Against Stigma of Childhood Asthma
ST. LOUIS, May 10, 2011 / PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Peabody Energy today announced the creation of an innovative new public health initiative designed to combat the stigma of asthma among American children ages 0-18. With Coal Cares™ (www.coalcares.org), Peabody will offer…
Associated Hijinks: Coal Cares
The following press release was sent out from GEnewscenters.com (rather than the real GEnewscenter.com) to a few hundred reporters on April 13, 2011. At least one bit—setting off a media firestorm.
Image…
Associated Hijinks: GE Returns Billions to Public Coffers... Not
Mar 15, 2011 09:00 ET
Enbridge Partners With Hair Salons for Cutting-Edge "MyHairCares" Initiative
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - March 15, 2011) - Enbridge Inc. (TSX:ENB) (NYSE:ENB) today announces MyHairCares (click here for downloadable Video News Release), a program to turn hair clippings solicited from over 1000 hair salons across North America into super-absorbent oil clean-up…
Associated Hijinks: My Hair Cares
This release was issued by the activists condemning their own action on Enbridge's behalf.
Mar 15, 2011 11:00 ET
Oil Spill Safety Hoax "Irresponsible": Enbridge
CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - March 15, 2011) - Enbridge Inc. (TSX:ENB) (NYSE:ENB) and its proposed Northern Gateway Pipelines project were falsely associated with a fraudulent oil spill safety campaign entitled “MyHairCares,”…
Associated Hijinks: My Hair Cares
[Emailed to journalists from an address at StarbucksComms.com around 10am PST.]
Email subject: Hoax: False Information Circulated on Starbucks Dairy Policy
Hi,
“News” circulated about our policies on dairy and non-dairy milk may have reached you today, and we’re writing to tell you that this announcement was not made by Starbucks corporate communications. It is a hoax aimed at confusing the…
Associated Hijinks: Starbucks "apologizes" for dietary racism - then actually does what we simulated
This was a fake attack by Apple against the perpetrators of the iPhoneCF hoax, in which Apple—while condemning the hoaxsters' silliness—called for various real and effective measures to stop conflict mining and the atrocities in the Congo.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 16, 2010
Contact: Caroline Hemmerskjold, Apple
Tel. (408) 676-7923
Email: caroline@apple-cf.com
CONFLICT-FREE IPHONE HOAX TOUTS…
Associated Hijinks: Apple Goes "Conflict Free"
Chevron has added a news release to its Investor Relations website.
Title: Chevron Deplores Subterfuge, Investigates Options
Date(s): 18 October. 2010
For a complete listing of our news releases, please click here
Chevron Deplores Subterfuge, Investigates Options
SAN RAMON, Calif., Oct. 18, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Earlier today, a group of environmentalists cyber-posing as Chevron officials…
Associated Hijinks: Chevron Ad Campaign Derailed