NY Times Exposes Santos’ Guinness Fib
A six-month New York Times investigation exposed yet another George Santos whopper, according to a bombshell report published today. The latest revelation tops a growing list of lies and deception by the newly elected U.S. Congressman from New York’s 3rd congressional district, including false claims about his ancestry, education, employment, charity work, property ownership, and crimes of which he claimed to be a victim.
In its latest investigation The Times debunked a Santos claim first made on the campaign trail in 2020 and often repeated since. The Times reported Santos is not the world's tallest man. Not even close.
The latest lie originated in Coney Island on July 4, 2020, when Santos was campaigning against Democratic incumbent Thomas Suozzi. Santos used a certificate purportedly issued by Guinness World Records and declaring him the world's tallest man at 8'11.3" to talk his way into Nathan’s Famous 4th of July International Hot Dog-Eating Contest. “It looked legit,” said George Shea, Nathan’s Master of Ceremonies.
Shea announced newcomer Santos that year as, “A towering threat with an esophagus wider than a salami.” After Santos came in last place, downing just 16 hotdogs in 10 minutes, Shea declared, “Today 15-time champion Joey Chestnut bested the best, even the World’s Tallest Man.” Santos largest in life stature was born.
Obvious Signs Overlooked
Minutes before he took the stage for a debate against Santos in October 2022, Democratic nominee Robert Zimmerman noticed a step ladder behind Santos’ podium. “Election Commission staff said it was an ADA accommodation and they couldn’t say more because of HIPPA, so we dropped it,” Zimmerman told The Times.
Santos campaign volunteers, hand-selected by the candidate, were all under 5’2”, The Times reported. “George carries himself with a larger-than-life stature. His charismatic personality made it easy to see him as a literal giant," former campaign manager, 4’9” Skylar Irize, told The Times. Irize left the 2022 campaign when word of her affair with Santos leaked. “We broke up later because I couldn't get past the height issue,” Irize said.
Repercussions from The Times report came quick. The NBA website no longer shows Santos in the lineup for next month’s Celebrity Dunk Challenge at the NBA All-Star Game in Salt Lake City, and chain retailer Casual Male Big & Tall said it has cancelled plans for the Santos Sportos Spring line. Reps. Dan Goldman and Ritchie Torres, both D-N.Y., said they will file a complaint with the House Ethics Committee over Santos’, “latest blatant fabrications.”
According to Guinness, American Robert Pershing Wadlow was the tallest person in recorded history for whom there is irrefutable evidence. Wadlow's height was 8’11.1” in at his death in 1940.
