Earlier in the week, a fake news story began circulating that an Illinois man was arrested for impersonating rock legend and former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar to open bank accounts and buy vape pens. A report apparently originated from a Rockford, Illinois TV station saying that a 58-year-old man named Ronnie Putnam was taken into custody for claiming to be “the real Red Rocker.”
The initial story went on to say that the man presented a homemade ID labeled “Sammy Hagar, Rock God,” and that “he was wearing red sunglasses and smelled faintly of margarita mix.”
The story turned out to be an internet hoax. AXS TV investigated and officials said, “We have no record of an arrest matching that description. In a statement AXS TV also said: “Many of the original sources have since removed their coverage.”
Hagar posted a video to X with the caption: “Who knows with AI these days if this is real or not, but every person I know has sent it to me, and anyone that would fall for this guy saying he’s the Red Rocker probably couldn’t name one of my songs.”
Sammy said: “Well I just woke up, and I feel about as beat up as I can be these days at my age. Look at this guy over here,” he continued flashing the photo that accompanied the fake story. “This guy, he says he’s Sammy Hagar?,” the singer said with a laugh. “I guess it is the season. Happy Halloween everyone.”
