Kirstie Alley has had unwanted publicity before, but this may be a bridge too far.
The actress was a trending topic on Twitter on Friday morning, but not for the right reason. In a totally unrelated news story, The New York Times reported a development in the "Bridgegate" scandal surrounding New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie: A former official at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will be pleading guilty Friday to unspecified charges in the case.
The official, David Wildstein, went to high school with Christie, and Christie appointed him to his role at the Port Authority. You might say, then, that he was an ally of Chris Christie's.
Or, you might say this:
...which in turn confused a lot of groggy people at 7:30 a.m.
Kirstie Alley is trending because America can't read. http://t.co/EKaz3ZSLeZ pic.twitter.com/NWu4jXK1sL— Dave Briggs (@davebriggstv) May 1, 2015
...which led to some creative Photoshopping the News on Twitter.
Kirstie Alley to Plead Guilty in New Jersey Bridge Closings pic.twitter.com/bCIru9YO5L— Philip Winn (@philipwinn) May 1, 2015
...which led to, of course, a response from the real Kirstie Alley.
@philipwinn @nytimes now Phillip..as a newsman you might want to check your facts..Chirstie Ally is NOT Kirstie Alley...see how that works?— Kirstie Alley (@kirstiealley) May 1, 2015
Cue the Twitter field day.
Lol is Kirstie Alley really trending because of Christie ally in Bridgegate development? pic.twitter.com/Bum1r8tMht— Steph Solis (@stephmsolis) May 1, 2015
"What does Kirstie Alley have to do with #bridgegate?" Best push alert fail that wasn't really a fail ever, @nytimes. pic.twitter.com/IOsoC6QcAE— Jenny Earl (@jenearlyspeakin) May 1, 2015
Kirstie Alley to plead guilty… pic.twitter.com/2HIqTfaIS6— Roy Stanfield (@RoyStanfield) May 1, 2015
Kirstie Alley is great but I liked Bridgegate better when Shelley Long was in it.— Harold Itzkowitz (@HaroldItz) May 1, 2015
Kirstie Alley is going to be either confused or delighted this morning.— JP (@JPnMiami) May 1, 2015
The Times wasn't the only outlet to use the headline:
No, I totally didn't just read that as "Kirstie Alley" and do a double take. Of course not. pic.twitter.com/8CnSths2Oh— Sarah Flocken (@sflocken) May 1, 2015
Kirstie Alley herself seemed to take it in stride, more or less.
And THIS is how rumors once again get started...jeez...hasn't even been a week since my last accusation...— Kirstie Alley (@kirstiealley) May 1, 2015
And the Times had fun with it, too.