Kevin Costner channeled his “Water World” character over the weekend, fighting a great white shark that attacked his wife during a snorkeling excursion in Santa Barbara.
Or at least, that’s what the entire nation of Germany was led to believe.
According to German newspaper Bild am Sonntag, Costner and Christine Baumgartner were fishing and snorkeling when a massive “monster of a shark” popped up in front of him. According to a quote he allegedly gave the newspaper, the great white was at least 13 feet to 15 feet long and was quickly swimming toward his wife.
The newspaper also reported that Costner started screaming at the shark underwater, and that he told them that the shark’s “mouth was wide open as he was swimming towards my wife. I was in panic. I barely made it to shove Christine aside and to hit the shark.”
After being hit on the nose, the shark reportedly swam away. However, Costner’s reps told TheWrap that the entire story is fake. Even though many newspapers, including such reputable outlets as Stern, T-Online and Focus picked up the story, Costner’s team deemed the reports fraudulent.
Even N-TV, Germany’s version of CNN, broadcast the news. A Costner spokesperson, however, denied that an interview between the actor and Bild Am Sonntag ever took place.
TheWrap’s attempts to reach Bild Am Sonntag were unsuccessful.