Hoaxes

??? Sept. 27, 2023

What We Know About Lil Tay’s Rumored ‘Death’The influencer’s father denied allegations from her Instagram account that he faked the whole thing.

By Danielle Cohen

plastic Aug. 2, 2023

Meet EcoWarrior BarbieShe’s made out of mushrooms, named after Greta Thunberg, and is definitely not a real Mattel product.

By Paula Aceves

the law Nov. 30, 2021

Defense Says Jussie Smollett Is the ‘Real Victim’Opening statements begin in the former ‘Empire’ star’s trial.

By Natalie Hope McDonald

hoaxes Dec. 24, 2020

Wife Swap Couple Pardoned by Colorado Governor for ‘Balloon Boy’ Hoax“It’s time to no longer let a permanent criminal record from the balloon boy saga follow and drag down the parents for the rest of their lives.”

By Halle Kiefer

hoaxes Mar. 30, 2020

Daniel Radcliffe and Erin Darke on Being the First Celebrity Coronavirus HoaxThe long-time couple talk about where they were when they first heard the rumor, how they’re quarantining, and laughing off years of unhinged gossip.

By Rachel Handler

end times fun Mar. 12, 2020

Daniel Radcliffe Wants You to Know He’s Okay“I’m very pale,” said the sickly-looking but perfectly healthy actor.

By Rebecca Alter

things that are not real Aug. 21, 2019

Celebrities on Instagram Fall Prey to Instagram HoaxAnother day, another copypasta.

By Madison Malone Kircher

misinformation Nov. 8, 2018

The Only Reason to Fact-Check Anything Is on Behalf of the AliensNobody is going to win the day, but someone has to win the historical record.

By Brian Feldman

hoaxes Oct. 31, 2018

Every Way Jacob Wohl Messed Up His Attempt to Take Down Robert MuellerAnd how Academy Award–winner Christoph Waltz got involved.

By Madeleine Aggeler

fake news Nov. 22, 2017

Aretha Franklin Is Alive and Responding to Rumors of Death“Thanxxxx for your concern.”

By Sarah Spellings

select all Oct. 2, 2017

The Vicious Circle of 4chan’s Mass-Shooting HoaxesWhen identifying hoaxes also amplifies them.

By Brian Feldman

select all Aug. 11, 2017

No, Mike Pence’s Website Wasn’t HackedIt’s an April Fools’ Day prank.

By Brian Feldman

hoaxes Mar. 23, 2017

Teen Who Claimed She Was Abducted and Raped by 3 Black Men Made It All UpPolice say Breana Harmon Talbott lied about the alleged crime that caught the attention of many on the far right.

By Gabriella Paiella

select all Nov. 4, 2016

The Fake Donald Trump Quote That Just Won’t DieThe ongoing hunt for mysterious, nonexistent footage suppressed by the media.

By Brian Feldman

twitter hoaxes June 28, 2016

Cormac McCarthy Still Alive at 82Despite what Twitter would have you believe.

By Nate Jones

May 5, 2016

It’s Important You Understand Just How Phony This Bieber Basketball Clip IsBieber is not good at basketball and it is important you recognize that.

By Jesse Singal

important questions Jan. 7, 2016

Was the Pizza Rat Video Staged?What is real?

By Claire Landsbaum

Dec. 28, 2015

Mark Zuckerberg Is Our New Billionaire HoaxMark is giving away $4.5 million to regular people like you and me!

By Brian Feldman

Dec. 11, 2015

It Is Incredibly Easy to Fake a Screenshot. Here’s HowTrust no one.

By Brian Feldman

hoaxes July 8, 2015

Man Stages Abortion Hoax to Get People to Buy His NovelSounds like a winning strategy!

By Jessica Roy

twitter hoaxes June 16, 2015

Aaron Paul Is the Boy Who Cried Breaking Bad SpinoffHe was bored.

By Nate Jones

hoaxes Nov. 13, 2014

That ‘Drunk Girl’ Viral Video Was a HoaxSurprise, surprise.

By Jessica Roy

hoaxes Sept. 24, 2014

Rantic Marketing: 4Chan Emma Watson Leak HoaxThe fatal flaw in the internet outrage economy.

By Jessica Roy

hoaxes Sept. 23, 2014

The Story of the 3-Boobed Lady Is As Fake As Her Third BoobSo disappointing.

By Jessica Roy

hoaxes July 12, 2014

Brooklyn’s Escaped Pregnant Tarantula Was a Big LieSorry!

By Caroline Bankoff

The Chain Gang June 19, 2014

McDonald’s Tricked People With the Promise of Nonexistent Jobs for a LameThe whole zombie musical thing is fake, but that’s okay because McDonald’s Las Vegas is open 24 hours.

By Clint Rainey

June 5, 2014

Jon Daly Looks Back on His Red Hot Chili Peppers Super Bowl Prank“It … sounds like what they would actually do, if you’re just casually listening to it. If you listen closely, it makes no sense—in an […]

By Megh Wright

hoaxes May 23, 2014

Johnny Manziel Not Being Sued for Dick PicsThe lawsuit from HLN contributor Samantha Schacher is fake.

By Joe Coscarelli

debunked May 14, 2014

Glee Actress Drama Too Closely Mirrors the ShowClearly.

By Lindsey Weber

scheduled fun is the worst Apr. 1, 2014

The Worst, Least Funny April Fools’ Day ‘Jokes’ on the InternetStop it. All of you. You’re not fooling anyone.

By Joe Coscarelli

Mar. 5, 2014

Funny Or Die Is Responsible for Hoverboard Viral Video HoaxEarlier this week, a company called HUVr posted a YouTube video announcing the first commercially-available hoverboards featuring Christopher […]

By Bradford Evans

Feb. 20, 2014

Jimmy Kimmel Orchestrated a Hoax Video of a Wolf in a US Olympian’s Hotel […]Last week, US Olympic luger Kate Hansen posted a video of a wolf roaming her Sochi hotel that went viral, but it turns out the video is a hoax […]

By Bradford Evans

Jan. 29, 2014

Jon Daly’s Red Hot Chili Peppers Super Bowl Prank Is a Thing of BeautyIf you head over to RHCP2014.com, you’ll be treated to a stream of the new song by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who are performing at the […]

By Adam Frucci

Dec. 12, 2013

Pace Salsa Prankster Randy Liedtke May Have Committed Another Twitter HoaxLast week, LA-based standup Randy Liedtke tricked comedian Kyle Kinane and a bunch of people in the internet with a fake internet account for […]

By Bradford Evans

hoaxes Dec. 7, 2013

Not-So-Stiffed Waitress Returning Donations [Updated]But that didn’t keep her from getting fired.

By Adam Martin

lying liars Dec. 6, 2013

New Jersey Waitress Also Didn’t Donate the Money She RaisedDayna Morales strikes again!

By Adam Martin

hoaxes Dec. 3, 2013

How Five Shows Can Mine the ‘Diane in 7A’ Twitter Hoax StoryIt’s calling out to you, The Good Wife.

By Margaret Lyons

hoaxes Dec. 2, 2013

Nasty Thanksgiving Note War Turns Out to Be a HoaxOf course, Internet.

By Adam Martin

death in the family Nov. 26, 2013

Family Guy’s Brian Might Not Stay DeadNo way!

By Jesse David Fox

the internet Nov. 18, 2013

‘Most Beautiful Missed Connection Ever’ or Not?Another emotional Craigslist post wins the Internet and is probably fake.

By Joe Coscarelli

the internet Nov. 8, 2013

New York Post Falls for Super-Old Internet HoaxA Chinese man probably did not sue his wife over an ugly kid.

By Joe Coscarelli

Sept. 24, 2013

Everything You Thought You Knew Was a Lie: @Horse_ebooks Is a Fake ‘Art […]What’s real? What’s an illusion? Can you ever trust anything on the internet? Can you ever even trust another human being? Are we all just tied […]

By Adam Frucci

Sept. 24, 2013

Julia Louis-Dreyfus Helped Jimmy Kimmel Stage Another Video Hoax Jimmy Kimmel got a lot of attention for his recent viral video hoax, so he made very clear last night that his latest YouTube stunt was just […]

By Elise Czajkowski

Sept. 11, 2013

Jimmy Kimmel Plays a Bunch of Media Reactions to His YouTube Hoax Yesterday, Jimmy Kimmel revealed his show was behind a viral YouTube video of a woman dancing and catching fire that even tricked Jimmy […]

By Bradford Evans

Sept. 10, 2013

Jimmy Kimmel’s YouTube Hoax Tricked Jimmy Fallon Last night, Jimmy Kimmel revealed that a viral video in which a woman accidentally lighting herself on fire while twerking was a hoax created […]

By Bradford Evans

the internet Jan. 29, 2013