Real or Fake: Photo of Rodeo Prayers for Boston

An image being circulated claims to show prayers for the Boston Bombing victims by cowboys at a rodeo. Today we’ll take a look at this image a little closer.

The image has nothing to do with the Boston Marathon bombing.

We were alerted to this photo by a Facebook user, who tipped us off as to the origin of the photo. The actual photo was taken back in 2008 at the 2008 WRCA Finals Rodeo. It was posted to the Ranch World Ads Magazine’s Myspace page (now unavailable on the “new” Myspace). Below is the image being circulated with a caption such as this one:

(Yesterday Texas Rodeo – photo – We are Praying for ya’ll) Powerful. #Boston

Obviously the photo was not taken after the Boston bombing, and thus is unrelated to the event.

Below is a similar ad found in the same photo album on Myspace:

Bottom Line

While it is likely that rodeos around the country have engaged in prayers for the victims of the Boston bombing, this particular photo is not linked to the tragedy. It is yet another case of an old photo being used to circulate a fake story with the purpose of gaining attention on social media.