Fact check: Robert Anthony Cruz, known as Coach RAC, attempted a backflip during a live CNN News Central segment.

Verdict: mostly true — Trust Score 75/100

The claims in this post are confirmed by 10 sources, including CNN, Sports Illustrated, and NPR. While the details of the backflip fail and subsequent injuries are entirely accurate, the post is sharing a recycled viral moment from July 24, 2025, without disclosing that the event occurred nearly a year ago.

Platform
instagram
Source author
thatsmemable — see all fact-checks of this account
Original post
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZWMSv7BdIb/?igsh=ZG1tcWYxNXdmZ3Jm
Verified on
June 10, 2026
Verification ID
kruDgCxC1733UPE79StGow

Original content reviewed

Platform: INSTAGRAM Author: @thatsmemable --- Caption/Description --- 😭 During a live CNN News Central segment, Robert Anthony Cruz, better known as Coach RAC, attempted one of his trademark backflips but came up short on the rotation and crashed face-first onto the studio floor. The unexpected moment left the hosts visibly stunned and quickly went viral across social media. Fortunately, Cruz later confirmed that he escaped with only a cut lip that required stitches and avoided any major injuries. He even took the incident in stride, joking with fans that they were welcome to laugh at the mishap. Published: 2026-06-09T01:30:13.000Z ---VERIFICATION_SUMMARY--- Platform: INSTAGRAM Author: @thatsmemable --- Caption/Description --- 😭 During a live CNN News Central segment, Robert Anthony Cruz, better known as Coach RAC, attempted one of his trademark backflips but came up short on the rotation and crashed face-first onto the studio floor. The unexpected moment left the hosts visibly stunned and quickly went viral across social media. Fortunately, Cruz later confirmed that he escaped with only a cut lip that required stitches and avoided any major injuries. He even took the incident in stride, joking with fans that they were welcome to laugh at the mishap. --- Visible Text/Media --- Video shows a man in a news studio attempting a backflip, failing to complete the rotation, and landing on his face in front of news anchors. --- Claims to Verify --- 1. Robert Anthony Cruz, known as Coach RAC, attempted a backflip during a live CNN News Central segment. 2. Cruz failed the rotation and landed face-first on the studio floor. 3. The incident occurred during a live broadcast and went viral on social media. 4. Cruz later confirmed he sustained a cut lip that required stitches. 5. Cruz stated he avoided any major injuries from the fall. --- Verification Focus --- Robert Anthony Cruz Coach RAC CNN backflip fail Coach RAC CNN News Central live segment accident Robert Anth

Claims analyzed (5)

  1. verified: Robert Anthony Cruz, known as Coach RAC, attempted a backflip during a live CNN News Central segment.
    Multiple news outlets and video archives confirm Robert Anthony Cruz appeared on CNN News Central on July 24, 2025, and attempted a backflip.
  2. verified: Cruz failed the rotation and landed face-first on the studio floor.
    Broadcast footage shows Cruz under-rotating and landing on his face, with hosts Kate Bolduan and John Berman reacting in shock.
  3. verified: The incident occurred during a live broadcast and went viral on social media.
    The clip was widely shared on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok, garnering millions of views within 24 hours of the July 2025 broadcast.
  4. verified: Cruz later confirmed he sustained a cut lip that required stitches.
    Cruz posted an update on his official Instagram account (@coach.rac) showing his injuries and confirming he received stitches in his lip and chin.
  5. verified: Cruz stated he avoided any major injuries from the fall.
    In his social media updates, Cruz reassured fans that he was 'all good' and that his pride was more damaged than his body.

Sources consulted (24)

Related verifications

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