Fact Check: Did Tim Walz s*xually assault former student Matthew Metro in 1997? Viral video debunked
Recently, a video surfaced on various social media platforms alleging that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz s*xually assaulted a former student, Matthew Metro, in 1997.
On October 17, 2024, a video in question features an individual claiming to be Matthew Metro, who accused Governor Walz of misconduct over two decades ago. The short clip begins with the individual alleging that he was a student at Mankato West High School in Minnesota and that the misconduct occurred in 1997 —
"My name is Matthew Metro. I'm a survivor of s*xual assault... I'll now share my story because this happened to me, too. It happened in 1997. I was a student at Mankato Ways High School in Minnesota," the individual claims.
However, the video is false, and the allegations are unsubstantiated, with no credible evidence to support the claims. It has been confirmed that the individual in the video is not, in fact, a former student of Governor Walz. Additionally, it has been determined that the video was AI-generated, further clarifying that the accusations against Governor Walz are baseless.
False claim: Tim Walz s*xually assaulted former student Matthew Metro in 1997
As previously stated, the claims made by the individual identifying himself as Matthew Metro are unfounded. It is essential to understand why these claims are false, but first, it is necessary to outline the nature of the allegations.
In the video that surfaced online, Matthew Metro asserts that he discovered he was gay at the age of 14. He claims that during the challenging period of his parents' divorce, he sought comfort from his teacher, Tim Walz. However, when he sought comfort from Walz amidst his parents' divorce, he alleges that Walz took advantage of him —
"My parents were going through a terrible divorce. And you know how it happens. Sometimes all you need is someone to talk to. Well, in my case, it was my teacher, Tim Walz," Matthew Metro said.
He further said,
"He (Tim Walz) placed his hands on my knee... His hand reaching, almost touching my crotch... He unzipped my pants, his hand rubbing my genitals," Matthew Metro claimed.
However, several points highlight the falsehood of this claim. First, community notes on X (formerly Twitter) indicate that the video is AI-generated and not authentic.
Additionally, the Agent Self FBI account on X debunked the video, noting that the individual used the word "S*XUAL ASSAULT" three times, each with the same pitch and tone — an unlikely pattern for human speech.
Furthermore, the account points out that the facial movements in the video appear unnatural, with unusual eyebrow shifts and inconsistent muscle movements.
Another factor disproving the claim is that, according to his LinkedIn profile and community notes, Matthew Metro did not attend Mankato West High School in Minnesota in 1997. Instead, he was enrolled there from 1993 to 1996.
Moreover, another user, Matthew Cottrell, shared a throwback photo of Matthew Metro from his school years, which shows a completely different individual than the person in the video. This further demonstrates that the video and its claims are false.
Governor Walz and his team still need to respond to the video claims.
Tim Walz is an American politician who has been Governor of Minnesota since January 2019. A member of the Democratic Party-affiliated with the National Democratic Party, Walz previously served as a U.S. Representative for Minnesota's 1st congressional district from 2007 to 2019.
According to NY1, Tim Walz worked as a social studies teacher and football coach at Mankato West High School in Minnesota from 1996 to 2006 before entering politics. During his tenure, he earned recognition for his dedication to education and ability to connect with students, which became a significant part of his public identity.
Many students remember him for his charisma, and according to Politico, a student remembered him as "wearing a tie and sweating profusely and just working his a** off as a teacher." He also indicated that he had studied to be passionate and service-oriented by his teacher, Tim Walz.