The Michael Jackson sculpture, that has been dubbed El Ayuwoki has been shared online.
The Michael Jackson sculpture, that has been dubbed El Ayuwoki has been shared online.
A new "Momo-style" video has appeared online, with a man dressed up as Michael Jackson warning viewers that the singer will come into people's rooms in the middle of the night.
Mexican police have been forced to put out a message to people reassuring them that a viral meme claiming a Michael Jackson figure will come into their rooms at 3am is not real.
The police in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur sent out the message to citizens concerned by the "El Ayuwoki" meme.
The name "Ayuwoki" comes from the Michael Jackson song Smooth Criminal.
"Ayuwoki" is how the lyric "are you okay" would be spelt phonetically in Spanish as Jackson famously sings "Annie are you okay?" in Smooth Criminal.
The police statement reads: "Although a lot of people believe this is a kind of demon or ghost from the internet, there is nothing supernatural in this matter.
"The kids and teenagers are looking to share it and believe in it because it is trendy, which could generate sleep issues, panic or anxiety."
The meme comes after the controversial Michael Jackson documentary Leaving Neverland has been released.
Wade Robson and James Safechuck outline the abuse allegedly inflicted upon them by Jackson when they were children.
The revelations in the documentary series are said to be so upsetting, mental health professionals had to be on hand when the film premiered at Sundance Film Festival in January.
The response to the documentary has seen radio stations in New Zealand pulling Michael Jackson songs from airing.
Last month news of the "Momo" challenge swept the internet after it was linked to the suicide of a young girl in Argentina.
The online game has appeared on social media platforms WhatsApp, Facebook and YouTube and led to authorities issuing warnings to parents.
The Momo challenge took the world by storm - but the real victims were not children.
"Young people are accessing it, the game has several challenges, they are accessing them and in the end it leads to suicide to finish the game," Janier Londono, government secretary of Barbosa in the Antioquia region told the Caracol news outlet in Colombia.
"Momo" reportedly begins with an avatar — taken from an edited photo of a sculpture by Japanese artist Midori Hayashi — instructing the victim and sending them violent taunts over messaging apps. Momo then threatens the player if they refuse to follow the game's orders.
Eventually they are challenged to take their own life.
It's believed the game originated in a Facebook group, but the creepy "Momo" avatar image originated from an Instagram photo of the sculpture that has been cropped and enhanced to appear creepier. Midori Hayashi is not associated with the "Momo" game.
WHERE TO GET HELP:
If you are worried about your or someone else's mental health, the best place to get help is your GP or local mental health provider. However, if you or someone else is in danger or endangering others, call police immediately on 111.
OR IF YOU NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE ELSE:
• LIFELINE: 0800 543 354 or 09 5222 999 within Auckland (available 24/7) • SUICIDE CRISIS HELPLINE: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7) • YOUTHLINE: 0800 376 633 ,free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nzor online chat. • NEED TO TALK? Free call or text 1737 (available 24/7) • KIDSLINE: 0800 543 754 (available 24/7) • WHATSUP: 0800 942 8787 (1pm to 11pm) • DEPRESSION HELPLINE: 0800 111 757 • SAMARITANS – 0800 726 666.
