I earlier posted about the “creepy Argentinan gnome video” making the rounds, along with one of the versions of the footage. As the comments there indicate, multiple uploaded videos demonstrate that several takes of the “incident” were made, the images look like a puppet, and other things point to a hoax. Nevertheless, interest is still running high about the visuals.

I was interviewed by reporter Alex Davies of Wireless News Flash service yesterday, for the following story they sent out today to their 800 radio stations and other news outlets:

ARGENTINIAN GNOME A RED-HATTED HOAXPORTLAND, Maine (Wireless Flash) — Strange gnome sightings in Argentina are pointing to evidence of a red-hatted hoax.

Last Tuesday (Mar. 11), footage of a weird, tiny, sideways-walking gnome in General Guemes, Argentina, made its rounds on the Internet, leaving people to wonder whether it’s a real sighting or just a hoax.

According to cryptozoologist Loren Coleman, the answer may lie on the gnome’s noggin.

He explains, “What makes me scratch my head is that the gnome is wearing a pointed hat, like a garden gnome or the Travelocity gnome. The hat is more of a pop culture reference, so I have to be suspicious of it.”

Coleman also says the gnome looks more humanized than typical hairy gnomes, leading him to believe that it’s just a little Argentinian who, as he puts it, “ate too many tacos.”

He also insists the video is nothing more than a great story for St. Patrick’s Day (Mar. 17), or maybe even travel website Travelocity’s attempt to get higher sales, since their mascot is a gnome.

CONTACT: Loren Coleman

Of course, my above comment is a multiple-leveled in-joke, as it refers to the travel book, There Are No Tacos in Argentina: 15 Days in South America with Randy Clark (1999) by Rick Stivers, and the non-existent nature of the very wide gnome eating non-existent tacos.

Only question that really remains, who fashioned this stunt?