He Took Down 75 Pounds of Prime Rib – What Happened Next Landed Him in Jail!

In recent weeks, a claim has been circulating on social media that a man was sentenced to 23 years in prison for allegedly eating 75 pounds of prime rib at a Golden Corral buffet. While the story has gained traction, a closer investigation reveals it to be entirely false, with several elements pointing to digital manipulation and misinformation.

The claim first surfaced in August 2023 through a viral TikTok video, which alleged that a man faced the lengthy prison sentence after indulging in an excessive amount of prime rib at the popular buffet chain. However, the video lacked critical details like the man’s name, the exact date of sentencing, and any verifiable sources that could substantiate the claim. It also failed to provide official records or citations to back up the outrageous story.

@chunkycreole #lakecharles #goldencarol #buffet #ribs #promeribs #trending #wtf #fyp #fypシ ♬ Stuck In The Middle – Tai Verdes

Adding to the skepticism, a crucial point to note is that Golden Corral’s buffet menus do not feature prime rib. Archived versions of the restaurant’s menu further confirm the absence of this dish, contradicting the central premise of the viral claim. With no evidence of prime rib being part of the menu, the entire story loses its foundation.

A widely circulated image attached to the claim depicted a mugshot of a man, along with a news ticker and logo from KLPC 7 News, a real news station based in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Yet, this image shows unmistakable signs of digital manipulation. Upon closer examination, visual inconsistencies become evident, particularly around the man’s neck, which appears disproportionate to the rest of his body. Additionally, the KLPC logo in the image features pixelated text and white smudges, likely from the use of an eraser tool, further indicating that the image had been altered.

Snopes, a well-known fact-checking website, conducted a reverse image search of the mugshot, revealing that the photo has been in circulation since at least 2009. Over the years, it has been used in various internet memes. In fact, Snopes shared a side-by-side comparison of the original image with the digitally altered version used in the recent Golden Corral rumor, confirming that the latter had been manipulated.

A keyword search on KLPC’s official website for content related to the alleged sentencing yielded no results. Furthermore, archived versions of KLPC’s website from August 2023, when the rumor began to spread, contain no mention of the story. A similar search through Google News‘ archives, which covers thousands of news reports from reputable media outlets, turned up no articles or reports regarding the supposed sentencing for eating 75 pounds of prime rib.

The lack of reliable news coverage is a significant red flag. If a man were indeed sentenced to 23 years in prison over a buffet meal, the incident would have undoubtedly drawn attention from media outlets across the country. Yet, no legitimate news organizations reported on it, further discrediting the claim.

This isn’t the first time such a rumor involving Golden Corral has made the rounds. In 2016, another false story suggested that a man was suing the buffet chain after being kicked out for staying at the restaurant for seven hours. That claim was similarly debunked by fact-checkers.

The combination of false details, digitally altered images, and the absence of credible sources all point to this story being a fabrication. Despite its viral nature, there is no evidence to suggest that anyone has been jailed for overeating at a Golden Corral—or any buffet, for that matter.

In an age where false information spreads rapidly, it’s essential to approach such outlandish claims with caution. The Golden Corral prime rib rumor serves as a reminder to verify sources, check facts, and question viral stories before accepting them as truth.