Kanye Hoax Not The First Time Fake News Caused Stir In Ye (Rye)

RYE, NY — Despite reports to the contrary, the New York City club and A-list playground 1 OAK isn’t planning an outpost in Rye. Kanye West isn’t offering millions of dollars to convince the town to change its name to “Ye” in his honor. An Olive Garden isn’t moving into an empty storefront on Purchase Street.

The headlines might sound implausible, but only a few weeks ago news cameras were in Rye interviewing local shopkeepers about the potential of renaming the town after the hip hop mogul and honorary Kardashian. Music magazines, news outlets and even Westchester Magazine reported the story as breaking news attributed to reports from the Rye Record.

Like the “scoop” that Fyre Festival 2 was being planned for Rye Beach, reports of Kanye’s offer were based on satire. News outlets, including News 12 Westchester, should perhaps, be forgiven for their confusion. The Rye Record is a trusted local news source that has been reporting on local business and school news for more than two decades.

More than a few locals were fooled as well. Diners at local staple Ruby’s Oyster Bar & Bistro greeted the news of a potential town name change with a mix of bemusement and outrage with just a touch of skepticism.

The first clue that some reports, like Donald Trump being named to play the next James Bond, in the Record might be fake news is the byline of one Clive Cumberbatch IV. More importantly, each of the tongue-in-cheek articles, such as “Trump Jr: Coming to Save Rye’s Republican Party” or “Breaking News: De Blasio to Run for Mayor of Rye” are each clearly marked as satire.

“Honestly, I think everybody was more angry at the Olive Garden thing,” Rye resident Thomas Jones told Patch shortly after the Kanye West story started making the rounds. “It’s all in good fun. I thought everyone knew about him [Cumberbatch], but people still fall for it. It’s like April Fool's I guess.”

The response among those who believed the Town of Rye was considering a name change for a big payday from Kanye West was overwhelmingly negative. If the musician ever does want a town named after him, he will likely need to check with officials in Rye Brook (or Ye Brook as it might one day be known).