Lesson
B2ENThe Influencer Who Lied: A Media Investigation
Investigate a social media scandal and uncover who said what, who lied, and who got misquoted. Master reported speech through tabloid headlines, press statements, and conflicting witness accounts. Watch a TED-Ed video on the language of lying. A practical B2 English lesson on reported speech, media vocabulary, and critical analysis of public statements. Ideal for adult learners, English tutors, and language schools.
Breaking News — The Mia Hartley Scandal: Predict & Verify
Predict & Verify
Prediction questions
- Do you think Mia Hartley is a liar or just someone who exaggerated? Where is the line?
- Who do you believe more — Hartley, her assistant, or the journalist? Why?
- Should influencers be held legally responsible for the claims they make online?
Wellness Guru Mia Hartley: Inspiration or Fraud?
For five years, Mia Hartley was the face of natural living. Her Instagram had 12 million followers. Her cookbook "Eat Real, Live Real" sold over 2 million copies worldwide. She gave a TEDx talk about how she had cured her chronic illness through diet alone. Brands paid her up to $200,000 for a single post. Then, in March, an investigative journalist published an article that changed everything. The journalist claimed that Hartley had never been diagnosed with the illness she said she had cured. Medical records obtained by the newspaper showed she had visited a private clinic only once, for a routine check-up. A former assistant told reporters that most of the "homemade" meals in Hartley's photos were prepared by a private chef and styled by a food photographer. The assistant also said that Hartley had continued eating fast food regularly throughout the period she claimed to be following a strict plant-based diet. Hartley's publisher released a statement saying the book had been written "in good faith." Her management team denied all allegations and said the claims were taken out of context. Hartley herself posted a tearful video saying she had "always tried to inspire people" and that her story had been "twisted by the media." The video received 45 million views in 48 hours. Some fans defended her, saying everyone exaggerates online. Others said she had lied for profit and should face legal consequences.
Tabloid Talk — Media and Scandal Vocabulary: Swipe Battle
Swipe Battle
Allegation
A public claim that someone has done something wrong, not yet proven
Cover-up
A public apology issued by a celebrity after a scandal
Whistleblower
A person who exposes secret wrongdoing inside an organisation
Damage control
Actions taken to reduce the negative effects of a scandal or crisis
Defamation
Making false public statements that harm someone's reputation
Source
A person who gives journalists information, sometimes anonymously
Retraction
A public statement officially taking back something previously said or published
Tabloid
A type of newspaper known for serious investigative journalism and long reports
Paparazzi
Photographers who follow famous people to take pictures of their private lives
Spin
Presenting information in a way that makes it look more favourable than it is
Exclusive
A news story published by only one newspaper or channel before anyone else
Deny
To publicly confirm a rumour and accept that it is true
Libel
A false written statement that damages someone's reputation
Settlement
An agreement to resolve a legal dispute, usually involving money, without going to court
How Liars Give Themselves Away: Content Block
Content Block
Discussion questions
- Which of the four linguistic patterns of lying do you find most convincing?
- Can you spot any of these patterns in Mia Hartley's public statement from the first activity?
- Is it fair to judge whether someone is lying based on how they speak?
- According to the video, liars tend to refer to themselves less and avoid the word "I".True
- The video says that polygraph machines are the most reliable method of detecting lies.False
- Liars often use more negative language because they feel guilty on a subconscious level.True
- The video claims that liars typically give very short and simple explanations.False
- Linguistic text analysis can identify patterns of deception in both spoken and written language.True
Lesson Board: Reported Speech — Tense Shifts and Reporting Verbs
Lesson Board
What Did They Actually Say? — Reported Speech in Context: Fill the Gap
Fill the Gap
- Hartley said (say) she had always tried (try) to inspire people.
- Her assistant told (tell) reporters that most meals had been prepared (prepare) by a private chef.
- The publisher claimed (claim) the book had been written (write) in good faith.
- Her lawyer denied (deny) that Hartley had ever lied (ever lie) to her audience.
- The journalist asked (ask) whether Hartley had been (be) diagnosed with the illness.
- Fans insisted (insist) that her advice had helped (help) thousands of people.
- The assistant admitted (admit) she had signed (sign) a non-disclosure agreement.
- A spokesperson warned (warn) the newspaper would be sued (sue) for defamation.
- Critics accused (accuse) Hartley of having built (build) her career on lies.
Four Sides of the Same Story: Jigsaw Reading
Jigsaw Reading
Mia Hartley's Public Statement
Mia Hartley posted a video saying she had never intended to mislead anyone. She said she had genuinely believed that changing her diet had saved her life. She admitted that some details in her book had been simplified to make the message clearer, but she insisted she had never deliberately lied. She added that the media had twisted her words and taken quotes out of context. She finished by saying she would take a break from public life to focus on her mental health.
The Former Assistant's Interview
Hartley's former assistant, Jade Chen, told a magazine that she had worked for Hartley for three years and had seen everything from the inside. She said Hartley had rarely cooked the meals that appeared on her Instagram. Chen claimed that Hartley had once told her privately that "the whole wellness thing is just branding." She admitted she had not spoken up earlier because she had signed a non-disclosure agreement and had been afraid of legal consequences.
The Journalist's Investigation
Investigative journalist Tom Reeves explained that he had spent eight months researching the story. He said he had obtained Hartley's medical records through a legal freedom-of-information request. He told readers that three separate doctors had confirmed Hartley had never been treated for the illness she described. He added that he had contacted Hartley's team six times before publishing, but they had refused to comment. He insisted his reporting had been fair and thorough.
Hartley's Lawyer's Press Release
Hartley's legal team issued a statement saying the allegations were baseless and defamatory. The lawyer said the medical records had been misinterpreted and taken out of their proper context. He claimed that Hartley's health journey had been real and well-documented by her personal physician. He warned that legal action would be taken against anyone who continued to spread false claims. He added that his client had been the victim of a coordinated media attack.
Comprehension questions
- How does the same event look completely different depending on who is telling the story?
- Which version do you think is closest to the truth? What makes you trust it more?
- Have you ever been in a situation where people told very different versions of the same event?
Report the Story — You Are the Journalist: Elevator Pitch
Elevator Pitch
Useful phrases
- According to sources close to...
- She reportedly told...
- He claimed that...
- It has been alleged that...
- When asked about this, she denied...
- Sources confirmed that...
Report the Hartley scandal for a serious broadsheet newspaper
You are a respected journalist. Present the facts fairly, using reported speech. Your editor wants balance, not sensation.
Report the Hartley scandal for a tabloid TV show
You are a tabloid presenter. Make it dramatic and emotional. Use reporting verbs like "claimed", "denied", "allegedly". Your audience wants drama.
Defend Mia Hartley at a press conference
You are Hartley's new PR manager. Report what she told you privately and convince the public she is innocent. Choose your reporting verbs carefully.
Accuse Mia Hartley on a podcast
You are the former assistant. Retell your experience using reported speech. Describe what you saw and what Hartley said to you behind closed doors.
Trust, Truth, and the Media: Debate Roulette
Debate Roulette
Useful phrases
- I strongly believe that...
- On the other hand...
- That's a fair point, but...
- The way I see it...
- The problem with that argument is...
- It depends on the circumstances because...
- Influencers who lie about their products should face the same legal consequences as companies that sell fake medicine.
- The public has no right to see a celebrity's private medical records, no matter what they are accused of.
- Journalists sometimes destroy innocent people's lives and never face consequences for it.
- Social media has made it impossible to know what is true anymore.
- People who sign non-disclosure agreements should be allowed to break them if they witness wrongdoing.
- Cancel culture is just accountability with a new name.
- Everyone exaggerates on social media, so it is unfair to punish only famous people for doing it.
- Anonymous sources should not be trusted in serious journalism.