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GASTONIA, N.C. – A recent viral rumor claimed that there was a figure in a dark cloak dropping meat near a North Carolina playground.

WBTV reported that the mystery has now been solved – and it may not be as creepy as everyone thought.

The photo is real, but the rumors are not. It turns out it was a student acting like a TV character for a school project.

It happened near a Gastonia playground and somebody at a nearby apartment took a photo of it.

The photo was later posted to Facebook and the story went viral. Many people wanted answers about who was in the photo.

The director of the apartment complex near where the photo was taken told WBTV the truth behind the photo earlier this week.

Some had joked about the image online, saying it was a “Star Wars” character or somebody performing a ritual.

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