A “teaser” for the January 7 issue of PEOPLE magazine featured Taylor Lautner with the caption, “Out & Proud,” implying Lautner was finally announcing he was gay. Accompanying the title was the quote, “I’m more liberated and happier than I’ve ever been.”

Turns out it was just a hilarious internet prank. A rep for PEOPLE said the cover “is absolutely fake” and notes the sidebar features Brad Pitt and Carnie Wilson from a 2006 issue of the magazine.

One person who was fooled was Russell Simmons who tweeted, “proud of Taylor Lautner for his bravery and courage.” When he found out it was a joke, he wrote, ”Disappointed that people would joke about someone coming out about their sexuality. Let Taylor Lautner be whoever he wants to be…”

I think this says more about Taylor Lautner than the guy who made the fake cover. The first thing that popped into people’s head when they read this was, “Good for him,” and not, “Wait… No way. Is this… is this right? Can’t be,” like they would if that was me on the cover. On account of me being so manly.

DJ’s working at Kronehit radio in Vienna, Austria played a little prank by calling up the Albertina art museum to arrange a last minute private tour for Beyonce (not unheard of for the museum). Instead of the real Beyonce, who was in town for a concert, they sent a “lookalike.” I use that term very loosely.

The station had a woman call the museum claiming to be Beyonce’s manager and asking for a tour within half an hour. In the past, movie stars Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and Nicolas Cage had visited the Albertina for hastily arranged special visits.

“Her face was extremely similar, but her body was totally different,” said Verena Dahlitz, the museum’s spokeswoman said of the Beyonce imposter, after her initial suspicion had been confirmed.

A marketing manager at Kronehit radio explained that the station had hired a German singer and model for the prank.

This is who now? Beyonce? Because she’s black with light hair? Way to go Albertina art museum. They could have sent a pit bull wearing a sun hat and they wouldn’t have figured out it wasn’t Beyonce until the middle of the tour. They’d have told the press that the hat was very familiar, but they grew slightly suspicious when Beyonce started barking and chewing on the artwork.

[Images: Wien]