French Scientist Shares Image from James Webb Telescope... Except It Was Just a Slice of Chorizo

Last week, French scientist Etienne Klein posted an image saying it was a detailed image from the James Webb Telescope, showing "Proxima Centauri," the closest star to the Sun, located 4.2 light years from us."

The image shows a round red object, swirling white orbs and a black background; another crazy clear image dropped on the internet using the James Webb Telescope - except it wasn't. It was just a slice of Chorizo.

The scientist backpeddled saying it was an intentional joke, meant to "raise awareness about fake news online." However, correct me if I'm wrong on this, YOU ARE THE SCIENTIST, you are the one we are supposed to trust information from, especially when it's about science.

Not cool science guy, this is exactly why conspiracy theories exist and now I'm hungry.

Google translation of the tweet from Etienne Klein, "Photo of Proxima Centauri, the closest star to the Sun, located 4.2 light years from us. She was taken by the JWST. This level of detail… A new world is revealed day after day."

h/t vice