In a case of "Don't believe everything you read on the Internet," gossip site TMZ got a story about a celebrity arrest wrong.
Contrary to reports that former Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland was behind bars, the singer was in an L.A. studio writing and recording a new album with his new band, the Wildabouts.
TMZ had reported last night that Weiland had been arrested for shoplifting at a Rite Aid pharmacy and for possession of meth. As MTV soon reported, the singer had not been arrested by police and was not currently incarcerated.
Weiland posted a video to his Facebook page in response to TMZ's story. Weiland stated, "I've actually been touring, writing and recording my new album. All I have to say to our fans is: Whether you find it funny or interesting or whether you’re sad, don’t worry, don’t fret. It’s a lie. TMZ, you'll be hearing from my attorneys."
The Beverly Hills police department later released a press release explaining what had happened. They had been deceived by the man they had arrested on July 26, a Weiland look-a-like that claimed to be the singer for almost a month. It turns out that the man is named Jason Michael Hurley, his identity being confirmed yesterday by fingerprint records.
After Weiland released his video and the police sent out its press release, TMZ updated the original post on "Scott Weiland" being arrested with the new information.
Scott Weiland is the former singer for the band Stone Temple Pilots. He broke up with them in early 2013, though that was the second time, after a separation in 2002 and then being reunited for a tour in 2008. The band had released six albums together, from 1992's "Core" and 2010's "Stone Temple Pilots."
After Weiland left the band, Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington became the new frontman for Stone Temple Pilots.
