Sports

Italian Basketball Player Felipe Motta Jokes He’s the Purported 'Alien' in Brazil Hiking Video

Another day, another viral video that isn't helping the larger UAP issue at all.

felipe motta juxtaposed with a viral video screenshot
Images via Getty/Gary Bassing/NBAE & YouTube

The latest instance of wildly questionable footage being far too widely treated as legit, particularly that of the purported “alien” variety, added a new wrinkle this week after Italian basketball player Felipe Motta joked that he was actually the person seen in a viral hiking clip.

As you may or may not have seen depending on your aversion to such things, the footage in question purported to show what some claimed was a "10-foot alien" seemingly out for a hilltop stroll on an island in Brazil. In fact, the clip claimed to show two such purported creatures.

Shortly after the footage started its path toward virality, the Flamengo basketball team player took to TikTok and Instagram to share a jokingly presented claim that the video shows him simply out for a hike. From there, Motta, who's reportedly six-six, touched on the various difficulties that often face someone who's exceptionally tall.

Somehow, Motta’s joke was subsequently made the center of reports suggesting that he was being quite serious, despite the whole thing clearly being a joke. In fact, Motta himself later addressed the news coverage of his TikTok in an Instagram Stories update, calling it “bizarre” and noting there’s been “enough” of such talk.

As we already pointed out when reluctantly covering the Miami mall conspiracy theories, giving too much attention to these types of viral videos is a waste of time when we have no shortage of legitimate UAP-focused developments we could instead be obsessing over. If recent updates are any indication, we should thankfully see plenty more developments on that front throughout 2024.

Related Stories

miami cops on the scene
life

Police Refute Viral Miami Mall Alien Conspiracy Theory: ‘There Were No Aliens, UFOs, or ETs’

There are plenty of legit UAP-related stories to dive into these days. No need for the fake stuff.

complex newspaper pictured
life

This Year in UFOs: Non-Human Biologics, New Sightings, Yeat Encounter, and More

It's been another great year for aliens, who continued to snatch up headlines throughout 2023.

Congressman Carson is pictured speaking about UAPs
life

First Public UFO Hearing in Decades Includes Warning of ‘Potential National Security Threat’

The hearing had been widely anticipated and marks the first of its kind in decades, signaling that the UAP (formerly known as UFO) issue is indeed advancing.

Trace William Cowen1448 days ago

Stay ahead on Exclusives

Download the Complex App