Bill Nye, the beloved science communicator and host of the popular PBS show Bill Nye the Science Guy, has been the subject of a persistent rumor that he was arrested for manufacturing and selling illegal drugs. The rumor has been circulating on social media for years, with many users expressing shock, disbelief, or amusement at the idea of Bill Nye being a drug lord. But is there any truth to this rumor? Did Bill Nye really get arrested for making and selling drugs? Here’s what we know.
The Origin of the Rumor
The rumor that Bill Nye was arrested for drug-related charges originated from a satirical news website called Huzlers, which published a fake article with the headline “Bill Nye the Science Guy Arrested for Manufacturing and Selling Illegal Drugs” in December 2014. The article claimed that FBI agents raided Bill Nye’s Los Angeles home and found “6 million dollars cash, 13 illegal firearms, 121 pounds of marijuana, 2 gallons of LSD, and 63 pounds of crystallized methamphetamine” in a secret basement. The article also quoted a fictional FBI agent who said he had seen enough Breaking Bad to know what to expect from Bill Nye.
The article was clearly meant as a joke, as Huzlers describes itself as a “Chicago based satirical news blog that focuses on celebrities, hip hop and urban entertainment” according to Huzlers. However, some people apparently took the article seriously and started sharing it on social media, without checking the source or the validity of the information. The article also spawned the hashtag #FreeBillNye, which some users used to mock the rumor, while others used it to express their support for Bill Nye.
The Debunking of the Rumor
The rumor that Bill Nye was arrested for drugs was quickly debunked by various fact-checking websites, such as Snopes, which rated the claim as “labeled satire” according to Snopes. Snopes explained that the article was published by a known satire website and that there was no evidence or credible news reports to support the claim. Snopes also noted that the article used an old photo of Bill Nye that looked like he was blowing out smoke, but that was actually taken from a video where he was demonstrating a science experiment.
The rumor was also denied by Bill Nye himself, who tweeted in September 2019 that he was “not arrested for drugs” and that he was “doing fine” according to Bill Nye. He also thanked his fans for their concern and urged them to “stay curious”.
The Current Status of Bill Nye
Bill Nye is not in jail, nor has he ever been arrested for drugs. He is still active as a science educator and advocate, and has been involved in various projects and initiatives related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). He is also the CEO of The Planetary Society, a non-profit organization that promotes space exploration and research.
One of his latest projects is a new black comedy educational series titled The End is Nye, which is set to premiere on Peacock in 2023. The series will feature Bill Nye as he explores various existential threats to humanity and the planet, such as climate change, pandemics, nuclear war, and asteroids. The series will also feature guest stars such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rachel Bloom, and Neil deGrasse Tyson.
Bill Nye is not only the Science Guy, but also a funny, smart, and inspiring guy who has dedicated his life to making science accessible and enjoyable for everyone. He is not a criminal, but a hero. And he is definitely not in jail.