Tiger Woods apologizes. Taiwanese news site animates accident, rumors
It’s the car accident heard around the world. There don't appear to be any eyewitnesses to Tiger Woods vrooming out of his driveway in the wee hours Friday only to crash into a fire hydrant and a tree.
But that didn't stop a Taiwanese news group from producing a video of the accident.
Apple News has tapped the massive global curiosity over what really happened to the world's No. 1 golfer by creating a computer-generated animation “documenting” it second by second.
The fake CGI explanation spread across the Internet as Tiger Woods issued Wednesday his most thorough statement yet about the accident. The posting was emotional, and personal – and left all the gossipy questions unanswered.
"I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves. I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect. I am dealing with my behavior and personal failings behind closed doors with my family. Those feelings should be shared by us alone."
It continued: "Personal sins should not require press releases and problems within a family shouldn't have to mean public confessions. Whatever regrets I have about letting my family down have been shared with and felt by us alone.
"I will strive to be a better person and the husband and father that my family deserves. For all of those who have supported me over the years, I offer my profound apology."
What the heck is he referring to?
For that Apple News steps into the void.
The first minute of the Mandarin-language video illustrates the bare facts reported by Windermere, Fla., police: Tiger leaves home in early morning hours and crashes car near home. Wife hears accident, runs outside, and pulls Tiger out of vehicle by breaking rear window with golf club.
Then comes the sinister music – and the Apple News rumor-mill version of events.
The computer animation cuts to a room in Tiger’s home. Apparently right before the accident he and his wife are arguing about a mistress (“a party queen in New York,” Rachel Uchitel). Wife slaps Tiger. Tiger speeds away from house, enraged wife chasing with golf club. Tiger turns back, shocked, then slams into the by-now familiar objects.
In his Wednesday statement, Woods says, "The stories in particular that physical violence played any role in the car accident were utterly false and malicious. Elin has always done more to support our family and shown more grace than anyone could possibly expect. "
Apple Daily, which provides numerous computer-generated “news” clips on its YouTube channel, appears to rely on animated scenes to fill in the sensational – even disturbing – details that no reporter has witnessed. As of Wednesday morning it was leading with a Cantonese-language version of the Tiger Woods news clip: different outline, same computer animation.
In another example of Apple Daily's "news" report, about a middle-aged woman who is attacked in her bed, switches to computer animation to show the intruder straddling her and trying to strangle her.
Apple Daily began producing graphic "news" clips beginning Nov. 16, according to eTaiwanNews.com, but they have already generated controversy. Apple Daily has been fined NT$1 million ($31,000) and the newspaper has been banned from all schools and public libraries in Taiwan’s capital, Taipei, for its "obscene" stories that include the links to the CGI animation.
In response the paper created a rating system for its online news, warning underage viewers to avoid “restricted” material.
