Far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones has been mocked by police after apparently having hot coffee thrown in his face.
The Infowars host was conducting a live video stream broadcast in Seattle and railing against passers-by when he became involved in a confrontation with a man.
After an exchange of words, the man then threw what appeared to be coffee over him. Mr Jones later said “it was hot”.
The incident, along with others in the broadcast, provoked widespread mockery on social media - before the Seattle Police Department opted joined in with the online derision.
Responding to a question from a journalist over whether any complaints had been received about Mr Jones’s behaviour in the video, the Seattle Police said in a tweet: “We haven't received any official reports.
“As far as we know that could be an actor playing Alex Jones.”
The tweet was an apparent reference to Jones's previous suggestion that Ku Klux Klan demonstrators were in fact "Jewish actors".
People online pointed out the man involved in the confrontation with Jones was a man identified as Jake Stratton, an actor and wrestler said to be well known in the city.
Jonathan Zwickel, senior editor of City Arts magazine, said the confrontation was “not staged”.
He said on Twitter: “That was Jake Stratton, longtime Seattle heavy-metal singer, pencil-fighting league champ and all-around wonderful weirdo.”
Another Twitter account in Mr Stratton’s name – but unverified – said: “It was not staged! I was on my way to work and saw that coward spewing hate.
“And the coffee was not boiling hot he's just a wuss #punchanazi.”
Mr Jones has gained notoriety for his extreme views and brash style. He has previously claimed without evidence, that the Sandy Hook massacre and Boston bombings were hoaxes and that Barack Obama founded Isis.
