In case you missed it, late last week, the New York Times covered the shocking story of a black girl who said that three white boys at her private Christian school held her down and cut her dreadlocks:

The police in Northern Virginia are investigating a report by a black 12-year-old girl that 3 white boys in her grade held her down, covered her mouth and cut off lengths of her dreadlocks on a playground at their private Christian school https://t.co/GqvcTwvpf7 — The New York Times (@nytimes) September 27, 2019

Sounds awful.

This is assault and battery. — Rabbit (@vinylrabbit) September 28, 2019

But what about the other kids’ religious freedom? — justabill ?? (@billradun) September 27, 2019

What fine Christians! — SeraphiM0352 (@SM0352) September 27, 2019

The New York Times piece — along with other media outlets — also noted that Karen Pence teaches at this school.

The private school that the second lady, Karen Pence teaches at? — Uniwolf (@Cancertarius) September 27, 2019

Not surprised: Kids at "Christian" academy where Mike Pence's wife teaches are vile racists. Pence should be asked about this, as should "mother." Of course the school will likely do nothing.https://t.co/mLDy5BUwIf — Tim Wise (@timjacobwise) September 27, 2019

White boys attack classmate and cut off her dreadlocks at school where Mike Pence’s wife teaches https://t.co/KVDVXCP4ln — Raw Story (@RawStory) September 27, 2019

I am SHOCKED to learn that a school that preaches one kind of intolerance happens to have a problem with another kind of intolerance! Where are the kids learning this stuff? (Hint: At school. Where Karen Pence teaches.) https://t.co/RbKYe9ZkXI — Zack Ford (@ZackFord) September 27, 2019

Obviously this is proof that the Pences are every bit the hateful bigots we’ve been told they are.

Or maybe it’s just proof that our Guardians of Truth wouldn’t know truth if it stabbed them in the face:

Developing: 6th grade girl who said three classmates cut her hair last week at Virginia school now says her allegations were false, according to statement from school. Story coming soon. — Joe Heim (@JoeHeim) September 30, 2019

The girl's family has also issued a statement apologizing to the boys who were accused and admitting that the charges by the girl were false. — Joe Heim (@JoeHeim) September 30, 2019

More from WaPo’s Joe Heim:

The grandparents of the girl, who are her legal guardians, released an apology Monday. “To those young boys and their parents, we sincerely apologize for the pain and anxiety these allegations have caused,” the grandparents wrote in a statement. “To the administrators and families of Immanuel Christian School, we are sorry for the damage this incident has done to trust within the school family and the undue scorn it has brought to the school. To the broader community, who rallied in such passionate support for our daughter, we apologize for betraying your trust.” “We understand there will be consequences and we’re prepared to take responsibility for them,” the statement continued. “We know that it will take time to heal, and we hope and pray that the boys, their families, the school and the broader community will be able to forgive us in time.” … The school’s principal, Stephen Danish, also issued a statement, and sent an email to parents and community members. “We can now confirm that the student who accused three of her classmates of assault has acknowledged that the allegations were false. We’re grateful to the Fairfax County Police Department for their diligent work to investigate these allegations,” Danish wrote. “While we are relieved to hear the truth and bring the events of the past few days to a close, we also feel tremendous pain for the victims and the hurt on both sides of this conflict. We recognize that we now enter what will be a long season of healing.”

Oh, well. No harm done, right? We’ve just got to heal.

Why was this news to begin with??? — Andy Swan (@AndySwan) September 30, 2019

Because anything that makes the Pences and Christians look bad is fit to print, according to the New York Times and their ilk. Who cares if it’s fake? Anything that perpetuates the necessary narrative is worth the risk to their reputations.

Well these aged super well. “We can now confirm that the student who accused three of her classmates of assault has acknowledged that the allegations were false."https://t.co/Wkou3upWfZ pic.twitter.com/WE7Iyu6VS7 — Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) September 30, 2019

Holy mackerel. @NBCNews did an on-air report on this story on NBC Nightly News Friday night. They even put "Christian school where Karen Pence teaches" in the headline. The girl made up the story.https://t.co/OnJzlQq0z6https://t.co/GmLq1Zoaxk pic.twitter.com/NK3VpMfJa4 — Jeryl Bier (@JerylBier) September 30, 2019

CBS NEWS: "The incident took place at Immanuel Christian School — where Vice President Mike Pence's wife, Karen Pence, is a teacher." They didn't even say "allegedly"! The story was made up.https://t.co/OnJzlQq0z6https://t.co/3efmHo63Fb pic.twitter.com/AM4LipacJi — Jeryl Bier (@JerylBier) September 30, 2019

The hoax even went international:

BBC News – White students 'cut off' black girl's dreadlocks in Virginiahttps://t.co/xfKdzAFUs1 — Jeryl Bier (@JerylBier) September 30, 2019

Can’t wait to see the corrections from so many blue check mark prominent media figures to this story which they spread to great effect. One reporter, @shomaristone, still has the false story as his pinned tweet. Yet another embarrassment for the media. pic.twitter.com/eBIGiqEnca — Steve Krakauer (@SteveKrak) September 30, 2019

Works every time it’s tried.

Will we get apologies from every leftist POS who blamed Karen Pence for this? Of course not. https://t.co/LWdmsqPrCB — Mark “BBQ addict” C ?? (@UntraceableMC) September 30, 2019

Im sure all the responsible and professional journalists/reporters who framed the story to include Karen Pence for some reason will come out and correct their stories…. as real journalists and reporters and not, you know…. the activists that they are https://t.co/dUBFaB6L1j — Bob Malak (@bob_malak) September 30, 2019

Don’t hold your breath.

Of course the media (looking at you NYT) blew this up. https://t.co/EaVyeR9bwf — Kathleen McKinley (@KatMcKinley) September 30, 2019

This fake story was blasted all over the national MSM, which can't seem to find the time to provide similar coverage of the ACTUAL attacks on Jews in Brooklyn https://t.co/t7BNonCaBi — Cameron Gray (@Cameron_Gray) September 30, 2019

It was extremely foolish to give this story so much attention based on the unsubstantiated allegations of a 6th grader and splash her name and photo all over. But the response now should NOT be to go after her, but the ADULTS who should have known better. https://t.co/AkSQkziV7l — Jeryl Bier (@JerylBier) September 30, 2019

The girl is young, and this shouldn’t be held against her for the rest of her life. Her family’s apology seems sincere. But media who seized on this story should not be forgiven for their transgression, because it’s only the latest in a long series of incidents of gross media malpractice. The media are repeat offenders and deserve to be held to account.

The press was only to happy to have the headlines scream “ITS WHERE KAREN PENCE IS A TEACHER!!!”

Trying to insinuate it’s her fault? She’s an ickie racist Jesus freak dontcha know… Or something Will this get the same attention? I think not.

The press is pure trash https://t.co/Czf9czRVyz — LaurieAnn ??‍♂️ (@mooshakins) September 30, 2019

Yet again the media jumps on a phony hate crime story uncritically, with no skepticism, no attempt to fact check, and puts the lives of innocent kids in danger in the process. Our media is such a joke. I honestly don't know how these people live with themselves. https://t.co/DJFyTvGG1L — Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) September 30, 2019

Editor’s note: This post has been updated with additional text and tweets.