On August 3 2021, longtime disinformation purveyor Judicial Watch issued a “press release” provocatively titled, “New Documents reveal the DC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner Submitted a Request to Cremate Ashli Babbitt Two Days
Publication: Fact Checks
Truth or Fiction?→ Taino Chief Hatuey’s Last Words Meme
On August 4 2021, prolific Imgur account OctopussSevenTwo shared a meme to Imgur which described the purported last words of Taíno chief Hatuey before being burned alive. One day prior, a Reddit account shared the same meme to r/Damnthatsinteresting
Truth or Fiction?→ Nikola Tesla ‘369 Theory’
In late 2020 and early 2021, a “369” or “3 6 9 method” purportedly derived from the words of Nikola Tesla were popular across various platforms (as versions of this quote): Tesla’s “3-6-9” quote varied across
Truth or Fiction?→ Lollapalooza Crowd 2021 Image
Between July 30 and August 1 2021, a purported photograph from the Lollapalooza 2021 music festival in Chicago went viral, hitting social media users a little differently against the backdrop of an ongoing pandemic. Perhaps the most prominent version w
Truth or Fiction?→ Statue of Buddha in a Flood
On August 2 2021, an Imgur account shared a TikTok clip, which purportedly showed a Buddha statue carried through floodwaters down a busy street: Later Fools! Shared by u/GIFBATTLECADDLE, the clip was titled “Later Fools!” On August 1 202
Truth or Fiction?→ Sea Cats and Passports
Variations on a July 2021 post about “sea cats” with their own passports were — understandably — reliably popular, with several iterations circulating on Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit: Think “working cats” is a new thing?
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Denzel Washington Say ‘Your Own Family’ Will Discredit You When You’re ‘Breaking Generational Curses’?
On July 28 2021, a Facebook page shared the following meme, which purportedly contained a Denzel Washington quote about “your own family,” who will “talk shit about you” when you’re “breaking all their generational c
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘China Received 8 Months of Rain in Just 5 Days’ in July 2021
On July 22 2021, the Facebook page “Green New Deal” shared an image and a status update about China’s recent torrential rains: China received 8 months of rain in just 5 days. The highest amount of precipitation since the measurements
Truth or Fiction?→ Bic’s ‘Martha and Snoop’ Ad
On July 25 2021 the Facebook page “Cheerful Nihilism” shared an advertising meme, purportedly featuring Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg for Bic lighters (captioned “nailed it”): Text at the top read “Shoutout to the BIC mar
Truth or Fiction?→ Banana Peel Water for Plants
On July 19 2021, a Facebook user in the group “Creative Gardening” shared their experience with “banana peel water” (also called “banana peel tea,”) including a photograph of their plants, apparently thriving thanks
Truth or Fiction?→ Does a Hospital in France Allow Terminal Patients to Meet With ‘Peyo the Horse’?
The story of a French hospital’s unusual relationship with a former dressage horse — and the horse’s relationship with terminal patients there — recirculated online in July 2021. Interest in “Doctor Peyo” reignited f
Truth or Fiction?→ Rep. Jack Kimble: ‘I Find It Very Suspicious …’
In July 2021, Facebook users and pages began sharing screenshots of a tweet attributed to “Rep. Jack Kimble” (@repjackkimble), in which he appeared to speculate on the reasons unvaccinated people were likelier to be infected and become ill
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Catholic Leader Who Wanted to Deny Biden Communion Resigns After Caught Using Gay Dating App’
On July 21 2021, viral content site Upworthy published “Catholic leader who wanted to deny Biden communion resigns after caught using gay dating app,” asserting: The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) approved a measure la
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Doc and Marty Made it to 2021’
On July 21 2021, an Imgur account shared the following meme ( “Doc and Marty made it to 2021” ), which references two main characters in the Back to the Future films and showing Christopher Lloyd (Doc Brown) on the left, with Michael J. F
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘In the Cayman Islands, There Is a Modest Five-Story Building That Is Home to 18,857 Companies’
On July 16 2021, an Imgur user shared a Bernie Sanders quote meme which alleged that a “modest building” in the Cayman Islands was the address for “18,857 companies”: Text on the meme attributed its creation to “Ro Khanna
Truth or Fiction?→ Abraham Lincoln and the Samurai Fax Machine
On July 16 2021, the Facebook page “The memes your parents warned you about” shared a screenshot of a text message, which claimed that there was “a 22 year window” during which “a samurai could have sent a fax to Abraham L
Truth or Fiction?→ Snapchat Plant Identifier
On July 18 2021, a Facebook user shared a status update about a Snapchat plant identifier, also claiming that the function would work the same way in determining a dog’s breed: If you focus your Snapchat camera on ANY plant & hold the screen
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘This Wenche Thikke’
On July 11 2021, a Facebook account shared Tumblr screenshots to a public group which purportedly excerpted a ribald verse that included phrases familiar to the modern ear, including “this wenche thikke” and “I wol nat lye” fro
Truth or Fiction?→ Rep. Matt Gaetz Says if Democrats Pass Voting Bill, Republicans Will ‘Never Win Another Election’
On July 18 2021, the Facebook page “Call to Activism” shared the following quote meme, claiming that Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) said that if Democrats pass “their voting rights bill,” then Republicans will “never win anot
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Hundreds of Cars Are Lined Up Along Hwy 18 Into Mission, South Dakota as the Remains of Native Children Were Returned to Their Homelands’
On July 17 2021, a photograph described as showing “Hundreds of cars … lined up along Hwy 18 into Mission, South Dakota as the remains of Native children were returned to their homelands” was posted to Facebook, echoing a tweet from t
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Canadian Peanut Butter’ Packaging
On July 12 2020, a Facebook account shared a cropped Twitter screenshot, purportedly showing what Canadian peanut butter packaging looks like: An image of a styrofoam tray (akin to meat packaging) containing peanut butter was appended, and the text re
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Captain America 31 Years Ago’
On July 15 2021. an Imgur account shared a Twitter screenshot, purportedly depicting Captain America “31 years ago” — or, as of 2021, in 1990: Dean Cain: I can’t believe they just made Captain America all woke and criticizing the
Truth or Fiction?→ Were Cooks the Largest Occupational Group to Die in the Pandemic?
On July 14 2021, an Imgur user shared a screenshot of a tweet claiming, in part, that “cooks were the largest occupational group to die in a pandemic”: I wish Anthony Bourdain were alive today to articulate the insanity of living in a cou
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘This Picture Was Taken in 1925, Of a Girl Visiting Her Twin Sisters Grave’
On July 14 2021, a Facebook account shared the following image and explanation to a Facebook group; it purportedly showed an image taken in 1925 of a girl at a cemetery visiting the grave of her deceased twin sister: This picture was taken in 1925. It
Truth or Fiction?→ National Kool Aid Day 2021 and Mike Lindell’s ‘Trump Return’ Claim
On July 14 2021, a graphic appeared on Imgur claiming that MyPillow chief executive officer Mike Lindell says that former United States President Donald Trump will be “reinstated” as president despite resoundingly losing to Democratic Par
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Friendly Roast in 2015,’ ‘HRC Being Roasted’
In July 2021, a TikTok video was shared to Facebook, bearing the labels “Friendly Roast in 2015” and “HRC Being Roasted” — purportedly showing former U.S. President Donald Trump “roasting” former Democratic pre
Truth or Fiction?→ Jaleel White and ‘Purple Urkel’
On July 7 2021, a Facebook account shared a screenshot a post and image featuring “Purple Urkel,” a strain of cannabis purportedly being promoted by Jaleel White of Family Matters and Snoop Dogg: Never did I ever think I would see Jaleel
Truth or Fiction?→ Finland Reindeer Reflective Paint Posts
On July 10 2021 the Facebook group Illusions featured a striking image, purportedly depicting reindeer in Finland whose antlers are painted with reflective paint in order to prevent collisions with cars: An appended status update from a group member r
Truth or Fiction?→ Albert Einstein Lecturing a Black College Facebook Post
In February and May 2021, Facebook users shared a photograph of Albert Einstein along with a quote — “The separation of races is not a disease of colored people but a disease of white people. I do not intend to be quiet about it”: Not
Truth or Fiction?→ OGX DMDM Hydantoin Facebook Post
On July 5 2021, a Facebook account shared a post warning people about OGX brand shampoo and DMDM hydantoin, writing: **UPDATED** If you are not aware, these are some of the OGX shampoos that Johnson & Johnson is being sued over. They have a chemica
Truth or Fiction?→ Biden Admin HHS Secretary’s ‘Absolutely the Government’s Business’ Vaccine Remarks
On July 8 2021, a number of partisan outlets asserted that Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra said it was “‘absolutely the government’s business’ what medical decisions you make for yourself and your famil
Truth or Fiction?→ SF Gay Men’s Chorus ‘Convert Your Children’ Song
On July 8 2021, Dinesh D’Souza tweeted and published a Rumble.com video with “SF Gay Men’s Chorus Literally Sings ‘We’re Coming for Your Children'”: SF Gay Men's Chorus Literally Sings "We're Coming f
Truth or Fiction?→ Darnella Frazier’s Uncle Killed by Minneapolis Police
On July 7 2021, an Imgur account shared a tweet with a Facebook screenshot attributed to Darnella Frazier, who disclosed that her uncle was struck and killed by police in Minneapolis: Hold on hold on The innocent bystander who got killed today by MP
Truth or Fiction?→ The Pledge of Allegiance Was Adopted in 1923, the Star Spangled Banner Was Adopted in 1929 …
A June 2021 Facebook “historical facts” meme included imagery of the United States’ Founding Fathers, alongside other claims about when the country adopted specific acts of public patriotism: The text at the bottom of the meme addres
Truth or Fiction?→ Is Rebecca Washington Replacing Sha’Carri Richardson on the U.S. Olympic Team?
A pseudonymous Twitter account picked up the story of Sha’Carri Richardson’s exclusion from the U.S. Olympic team to spin up a rumor that quickly went viral. The post, which came from a Twitter account called the Victory News Network, said
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘U.S. Quietly Slips Out Of Afghanistan In Dead Of Night’ Onion Story
On July 6 2021, Twitter user @SIGSYS published two screenshots, one a satirical headline from The Onion in July 2011 about the United States having “quietly slip[ped] out of Afghanistan in [the] dead of night,” and a July 2021 Associated
Truth or Fiction?→ Donald Rumsfeld and Mount Misery
A July 1 2021 Facebook image of an unassuming house was shared after the death of former United States Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, alongside a post and video link claiming that the Bush administration official purchased and had lived at a place
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘The History of Left-Handedness’
A June 30 2021 tweet (part of discourse about transgender youth) referenced a “left-handedness chart,” as a rhetorical response to questions about why there were “suddenly” “so many” gay, transgender, and non-binary
Truth or Fiction?→ Walmart ‘National Anthem’ Video
On July 3 2021, a Facebook account shared a video which purportedly showed a “spontaneous” rendition of the national anthem, performed by shoppers at a Walmart in Haslet, Texas: Alongside the video, the original poster added: Very Patriot
Truth or Fiction?→ Why Bill Cosby Was Released
A June 30 2021 Facebook post by writer and activist Shaun King about the overturning of Bill Cosby’s conviction received significant engagement both there and on Imgur: In the June 30 2021 post, Shaun King said that Cosby (who was convicted of