China People's Daily fooled by spoof that North Korean dictator is 'sexiest man alive'
The online version of China's Communist Party newspaper, the People's Daily, has been taken in by a report by US satirical website The Onion naming North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un as the "Sexiest Man Alive".
Kim Jon Un: Sexy dictator?
On Tuesday the Daily ran a 55-page photo spread on its website in a tribute to the round-faced leader, under the headline "North Korea's top leader named The Onion's Sexiest Man Alive for 2012." .
The English-language version of the article that's currently live on the Daily's website is technically accurate, says US website Slate .
"It leads with the news that The Onion has bestowed this year's title on the leader of the reclusive nation (technically true)", and then offers choice quotes from the article.
This passage from the original spoof that made its way into the Chinese report:
"With his devastatingly handsome, round face, his boyish charm, and his strong, sturdy frame, this Pyongyang-bred heartthrob is every woman’s dream come true. Blessed with an air of power that masks an unmistakable cute, cuddly side, Kim made this newspaper’s editorial board swoon with his impeccable fashion sense, chic short hairstyle, and, of course, that famous smile."
The Onion article also said, “He has that rare ability to somehow be completely adorable and completely macho at the same time,” Onion Style and Entertainment editor Marissa Blake-Zweibel said. “And that’s the quality that makes him the sort of man women want, and men want to be. He’s a real hunk with real intensity who also knows how to cut loose and let his hair down.”
Surprising that no-one in Beijing twigged that this was all a joke!
The Onion with 16-pages on Kim (rather less than People's daily) goes on sale in Friday.