Since 2018, we have been seeking truth. Finally, we have some clarity — at least when it comes to the rumour that former prime minister Scott Morrison soiled himself at Sydney's Engadine McDonald's in 1997.
It was, as many suspected, a complete fabrication.
It all started in 2018 when a tweet emerged claiming Mr Morrison suffered a mishap at the fast food restaurant after his team, the Cronulla Sharks, lost the Super League grand final in 1997.
It's a visual tale that gained a life of its own, mainly on social media, but it even apparently spawned a real-life plaque at the McDonald's in question.
The rumour spread so far Mr Morrison felt compelled to raise it on The Kyle and Jackie O Show in July 2021, while Sydney was in lockdown, and Melbourne was teetering on the edge of yet another.
"Can I clear one thing up from ages ago," he asked the radio hosts at the time.
"It is the biggest urban myth ever," he said.
He always maintained it was untrue, and told Kyle and Jackie O at the time he found it "incredibly amusing" and would joke about it.
The man who started the rumour — Rowan Dix, otherwise known as musician Joyride — has come clean on the Hello Sport podcast — and a clip shared on TikTok.
"I just tweeted it," he said
"The intention was never for it to be a rumour."
"It was just sh*tposting."
"The whole thing was that he was such a Sharks fan that he went to the Super League final ... where they played the Broncos and lost, got so blind that he shat himself at a Maccas," he said.
Despite not being true, the rumour remained for years, re-emerging on social media during the lead-up to the 2022 election.
Scott Morrison, when he was prime minister, looking at a McDonald's menu board at a tech innovation hub in Chicago in 2019. Though they are fake, 'Engadine Maccas' rumours surrounding Morrison have refused to die. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas
Mr Dix also mentioned he attempted to start other fecal-themed rumours, including one about Karl Stefanovic at Cremorne McDonald's following the Logies.
"It's a funny thing; a well-known person shitting themselves at McDonalds," he said.
Mr Dix has been contacted for comment.
Insulting, reckless, disrespectful, and harmful.Statement from Scott Morrison's office
Following the disclosure, a statement from Mr Morrison's electoral office - the former prime minister is the federal MP for Cook in Sydney's south - reiterated his longstanding truth.
"On numerous occasions Mr Morrison strenuously and repeatedly denied the assertion made by Mr Dix whenever it was put to him in the media and in public and found it to be insulting, reckless, disrespectful, and harmful," the statement reads.
