Earlier this month, a Mississippi family convinced America that their little girl had been kicked out of Kentucky Fried Chicken because of scars on her face.

The 3-year-old girl’s grandmother recalled to 16 WAPT News that “[KFC] just told us, they said, ‘We have to ask you to leave because her face is disrupting our customers.’ [Victoria] understood exactly what they said.”

It turns out that the entire story, save for the sad part about Victoria Wilcher being mauled by two pit bulls, is a hoax.

The Washington Post reports that both an internal probe by KFC and an independent investigation uncovered no evidence that the restaurant asked Wilcher to leave.

The family, however, continues to defend their story.

“It is deeply disappointing that other parties have taken opportunity to attack Victoria through social and news media outlets,” Wilcher family attorney Bill Kellum said in a statement obtained by the newspaper. “Victoria is an innocent child with very real physical and emotional scars. The focus of her family has always been, and will always be on Victoria and making her whole again.”

Fortunately, since Victoria remains the real victim in this situation, KFC will still be donating $30,000 to help with the 3 year old’s medical bills.

Photo credit: Victoria’s Victories/Facebook