Glen Powell learns viral 'date with a cannibal' story was fake: 'False alarm'
Glen Powell wants the world to know that "back rubs are back."
The "Hit Man" actor took to X on Monday to clear up his viral "date with a cannibal" comments that sent the internet into a frenzy.
During a late May appearance on the "Therapuss" podcast hosted by his workout partner Jake Shane, Powell told a story about how his little sister's friend got "weird vibes" from a guy on a date – who turned out to be a cannibal, after he gave her a massage with "black market lotion that breaks down skin for human consumption."
Turns out, the internet fact-checked the claims first and found that the "Top Gun: Maverick" alum's viral moment was originally an urban myth. According to Snopes, a site that fact checks and debunks urban legends, their first email in this vein dates back to 2001.
Powell jokingly took to X to speak out about the podcast segment that tore the internet apart with speculation.
"Props to my little sister's friend who told her this dating story…I've been telling this for years," Powell said on X Monday before quipping, "I'm questioning my whole life now… False alarm. Back rubs are back."
Glen Powell talks Netflix's 'Hit Man,' his dog Brisket and 'freedom' of moving to Texas
During the original date story, he said his little sister's friend went to the man's apartment for the back rub and she got "weird vibes" and left the apartment. The next day, she went to a doctor after her skin started "itching like crazy" and the doctor ran tests which found the "black market lotion."
"This man was rubbing lotion on her body to eat her, so the doctor's like 'You got to give me this person's address and you should call the police.' They got to this guy's house, and he had several girls' bodies," Powell told Shane.
Glen Powell moved back to Texas amid ascent to superstardom
While Powell got sidetracked by the cannibal conversation on the podcast, the actor has been promoting his new Netflix film "Hit Man." He opened up to USA TODAY, in an interview pegged to the film, about his dog Brisket and trading Hollywood for his Texas roots.
"The goal was always whenever I got enough traction out in LA that I could return home. I've always kept a place here in Austin, but I finally got the place that I really wanted," the native Texan told USA TODAY. "My parents just turned 70 and you want to enjoy every moment you have near your family."
The leading man, who was recently inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame, said "it's really fun to be around people that love movies and love the business," but added that "sometimes that echo chamber can be not so great for you on the mental health level."
Contributing: Brian Truitt
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Glen Powell learns 'date with a cannibal' story was fake
