Tin foil hats on – the government haven’t switched on their weather machine for Matt Le Tissier’s birthday.
Le Tissier, who turns 56 on Monday (14 October), has caused quite the furore over the last couple of years. Whether it is his admittance of breaking lockdown laws, his vaccine scepticism, or his retweeting of a Twitter post suggesting some images of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine were falsified.
Le Tissier’s controversial views have certainly jarred with many. And on his birthday, Daily Star Sport has a look at Le Tissier’s views on a range of famous conspiracy theories.
On the term ‘conspiracy theories’
(Image: Matt Le Tissier | Pub Talk / Youtube)
What better place to begin this journey than the very term he has been asked about. It appears, Le Tissier believes there is a conspiracy theory about the term ‘conspiracy theories’ being used to shut down what he believes are “debates” but other people think are “conspiracy theories”.
While the Cambridge dictionary definition is “a belief that an event or situation is the result of a secret plan made by powerful people”, Le Tissier believes the term has been evolved as a means to shut down debates.
“What we have to realise first of all is, when you start talking about a conspiracy theory, you have to go back to the origin of where it came from and why it is used,” Le Tissier said to the Pub Talk podcast.
“So, the term conspiracy theory is used to shut down debate from people who don’t want to talk about a subject because it might be a bit uncomfortable. So, just to put that into context, let’s go.” Let’s go indeed.
The Moon Landing
(Image: Andy Saunders/NASA/JSC/ASU/SWNS)
One of the most iconic and famous conspiracy theories is the idea the 1969 moon landing of Apollo 11 was falsified. It was the first ever crewed mission to successfully land on the moon and the birth of the iconic quote “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”.
While he did not confidently state his belief whether it was fabricated or not, Le Tissier admitted he was more open minded about those theories. “The moon landing, I have no idea,” Le Tissier said. “But, I’ve seen evidence and you look at videos and things in the shadows.
“But, there are all sorts of explanations. I have no idea whether they landed on the moon or not.”
Aliens
(Image: Getty Images)
If we are being fair to Le Tissier, a significant percentage of the population believe in the presence of aliens. A 2021 study by YouGov stated around 50% of Britons believe aliens exist, while 22% believe aliens have visited earth. And Le Tissier is one of those Brits who believe the human race is not alone.
“Yea, I am a bit more certain that yes, there are other forms of life on our planet,” the former England midfielder replied. “I think there is enough evidence from people who have had experiences and video footage.
“I think there is enough there. Actually, I think you’ve almost got to be a bit wacky to thing we are the only people that can inhabit this planet.”
Loch Ness monster
(Image: Getty Images)
When it comes to conspiracy theories people hope to be real, the presence of the Loch Ness monster is certainly one of them. In 2019, supposed sightings of ‘Nessie’ reportedly reached a record high.
However, Le Tissier does not think the Scottish legend is out there, waiting to be discovered in the Loch. “I’ve not seen enough evidence to believe Nessie is out there,” he said confidently.
“They’ve been searching for it for years.”
The World being flat
(Image: Shutterstock / 3d_vicka)
Despite numerous photographs and eye-witness testimony from those who have been out of this world, there are still many people who believe the earth is table-top flat.
But while Le Tissier did not say whether he believed the world was flat or not, he did make the point that, back in the times when people thought the world was flat, those who said it was round would have likely been ostracised.
“Well, everyone used to believe the earth was flat,” Le Tissier began. “Then, all of a sudden, when that was the status quo, somebody came along and said ‘well no, it’s round’.
“What do you reckon he was called? Do you reckon all the people who believed it was a flat earth went ‘He’s a conspiracy theorist, he thinks the world is round, he’s mental’.
“And now, everybody believes the earth is round. Now everyone believes the flat earthers are mental.”
9/11
(Image: Getty Images)
While he did not detail exactly what he thinks happened, Le Tissier made it abundantly clear he is sceptical about the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001, which claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people.
“There’s enough structural engineers I have listened to that have all said there is no way a plane could do that to a building, unless there was some kind of controlled explosion,” Le Tissier said to a baffled Ray Parlour and Alan Brazil.