NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn’t happen this week

This Wednesday, March 17, 2021 file photo shows a sign for the Gold Spa massage business in Atlanta, the day after multiple people were killed at three massage spas in the Atlanta area. On Friday, March 19, 2021, The Associated Press reported on stories circulating online incorrectly asserting that on Tuesday, March 16, hours before police say Robert Aaron Long, 21, killed eight people at three Atlanta-area massage businesses, he posted on his Facebook that China was engaged in a "COVID coverup" and "AMERICANS NEED TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST CHINA, NOW." But the post is not authentic. The fictitious image began circulating Tuesday night after Long, was identified as a suspect in the mass shootings that took place at the Atlanta-area massage businesses. (AP Photo/Ben Gray)

By Associated Press March 20, 2021 12 min read

A roundup of some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week.

None of these are legit, even though they were shared widely on social media. The Associated Press checked them out.

Here are the facts:

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THE CLAIM: On Tuesday, hours before police say Robert Aaron Long killed eight people at three Atlanta-area massage businesses, he posted on Facebook that China was engaged in a “COVID coverup” and “AMERICANS NEED TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST CHINA, NOW.”