"Fartgate" began as many online scandals do: from the keyboard of a shrewd television viewer that possesses both a Twitter account and far too much time on their hands.
Wendy Williams really farted on live TV. I am unable. https://t.co/rZBLijgauZ— Psyflop (@Psyflop) 1579440228.0
The replies to the original tweet were a fart-fueled snowball. This became the toot heard round the world.
@holdmydxckk @RandyEmillio Everyone behind the camera when she let it rip like a Beyblade https://t.co/QVWLbI3p8R— NB🇬🇭 (@NB🇬🇭) 1579494400.0
@RandyEmillio Me in the audience after I heard it https://t.co/E176GB3Qaq— Zay 👑 (@Zay 👑) 1579478036.0
But was Williams truly the culprit?
She made a passionate case denying the charge on a recent episode.
How does she justify her tell-tale break wind lean, then?
"I don't lean over like this to release a fart. I'm leaning over like this because it's comfortable."
"If I sit [straight up] all the time it's heavy on my spine. I don't have the back. I'm not trying to get the back."
Wendy then proceeded to deconstruct her entire approach to flatulence.
"I barely fart. You know why? Because gas gets released several different ways and mine is belching."
Williams then brings out John – whose role on Wendy's production team was left completely unmentioned.
This guy blamed the chemist guest Wendy had that day, who was allegedly setting up in the back during her "Hot Topics" portion of the show, where she gives hot takes on the celebrity news of the day.
John walked folks through a long-winded description of the properties of a substance known as "air gas."
"We were doing an experiment out here with a tank...and we didn't have the proper hose."
"It wasn't working and the air was just coming out and it was sputtering like somebody was farting."
But it seems that the explanation didn't quite do the job.
YouTube viewers doubled down on the fart claim.
Tom N/Youtube
Tamara Magdalene/Youtube
This guy even ups the ante.
David Rivera/Youtube
Twitter didn't disappoint either.
@ETCanada The classic case of People who denied it v.s. People who supplied it— Señor Panchod (@Señor Panchod) 1579815228.0
@ETCanada She lies like a cheap rug😂😂 It was a fart and we all do it from time to time.— Tammy Marchand (@Tammy Marchand) 1579816377.0
Though it's not the first time a live TV fart made some waves.
California Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell allegedly let one rip while firmly touting the case to impeach trump.
Internet sleuths gonna internet sleuth.