‘This was a stunt’: Airport reveals the TRUTH about that...

We were all left feeling a little heartbroken by the image of a giant teddy-bear left sitting beside a bin at LAX Airport last week.

However, the truth behind the Transport Security Administration’s (TSA) viral post has been revealed – and all was not as it seemed.

While concerned parents all over the world jumped to the conclusion that this big guy was the property of a child, who was left heartbroken when they couldn’t fit him onto the plane, this was not the case at all.

Click on the link in our profile to read a blog post on this subject. ***UPDATE*** After watching a YouTube video posted by the traveler, we’ve learned that he’s a popular YouTuber and this was a stunt to see if he could get the giant bear on the plane. He even made up a backstory that the bear was a gift for his girlfriend. The bear did not belong to a child. The passenger had actually bought a ticket for the bear. After the airline and TSA decided the bear was too large, the airline offered to refund the ticket and the traveler was given the option of checking the bear as checked baggage. The traveler opted not to check the bear and left it behind.*** Why does this gigantic teddy bear look so sad? He was abandoned by his owners at LAX after the airline and TSA determined that he was just too big to be screened as a carry-on and taken on the plane. It’s a good idea to check with your airline prior to traveling with overly large items as cary-ons. If you see this wayward bear strolling the streets of LA, please feel free to feed him. #TSATravelTips

A photo posted by TSA (@tsa) on Dec 14, 2016 at 2:21pm PST

An update from the TSA revealed that it was all part of a ‘stunt’ devised by ‘popular YouTuber' Jake Paul.

“He even made up a back-story that the bear was a gift for his girlfriend…The passenger had actually bought a ticket for the bear,” the updated post explained.

But, after the TSA decided that the bear was too large, the YouTuber was faced with a dilemma: get a refund on his ticket, or check the bear as checked baggage.

What do you think he did? He took the refund and left the teddy-bear behind!

While we’re all a little relieved to discover that some little one’s Christmas hasn’t been ruined in the absence of their teddy-bear bestie, we’re left wondering what’s going to happen to this cuddly creature.

“If you see this wayward bear strolling the streets of LA, please feel free to feed him,” the TSA team added.

Let’s hope this big guy finds a loving home!