Media lies about Djokovic and Russia-Ukraine
Tennis GOAT Novak Djokovic, who just dominated his (jabbed) opponents to win this year’s Australian Open (source), and who previously suffered discrimination due to his supposedly controversial position on COVID-19 jabs, was involved in more controversy during the sportsball tournament as his father Srdjan had, according to mainstream news outlets in Australia (source, source), the United Kingdom (source), and the US (source), mingled with people supporting the Russians’ war efforts in Ukraine, stating, “zivejli Russiyani”, meaning something like “long live the Russians”.
The available video does not seem to include this phrase, with Serbian journalist Saša Ozmo clarifying, “I have seen a lot of incorrect translations yesterday, what Srdjan Djokovic says is “Živeli, ljudi”, which in this context translates to “cheers, guys” and means “goodbye” at the same time.” Source. This aligns with claims by Novak and Srdjan that the latter simply and briefly posed for a picture with people he thought were fans of his son and moved on, with no intention to support any war effort. Source.
Okay then.
Extra: Keen OTN readers may recognise similarities with fake news about a footballer’s apparent effect on Coca-Cola’s stock price, a story which also involved a (minor) mistranslation.