Paul the Octopus Was a PR Stunt

By Noah Davis 

Is nothing sacred?

Paul, the psychic Octopus who correctly picked the outcome of eight World Cup games, died yesterday. But the story doesn’t end there.

According to the Independent the entire thing was an elaborate hoax created by Merlin Entertainments Group.

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Paul the Octopus, who provided colorful if inane fodder for umpteen news and broadcast organizations during the World Cup, especially those with no rights to any live action in South Africa, was also credited with predicting correct match results for Euro 2008 games. It should be stressed that, contrary to some reports, that was actually a different octopus, and that the different octopus got other results wrong, but such facts shouldn’t get in the way of a good story.

Next you’ll tell us Santa Claus doesn’t exist.

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