Was the children's show Peppa Pig based on a science experiment where a couple injected pig DNA into their daughter? No, that's not true: There is no evidence that this is a real story or that Peppa Pig originated from it. This claim was
Search Results (905) for: joke
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Memento Homo’ and Untrustworthy Google Results
On June 26 2023, Google took another turn toward actively disinforming readers when the search engine propagated a joke tweet by Twitter account @WeirdMedieval as a legitimate translation: crying bc google is propagating my fake news pic.twitter.c
Truth or Fiction?→ The French ‘Barbie’ Poster
On June 16 2023, images of a purported French promotional poster for the Barbie movie began circulating on social media, becoming virally popular due to a rumored double entendre (or “error”) in translation. The ‘French Barbie Poster
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: ‘Arborist’ Did NOT Secretly Plant Giant Sequoia In Redondo Beach Mayor’s Yard Or Other Big Trees In Town
Did a self-proclaimed arborist plant a giant sequoia tree in their mayor's front yard along with 127 giant sequoias and giant redwoods throughout the Redondo Beach, California, area in response to the city removing a 30-year-old pepper tr
FactCheck.org→ Trump’s Distortions of Federal Indictment
In the days leading up to his June 13 arraignment and in a speech several hours afterward, former President Donald Trump distorted what the federal indictment against him said and made faulty comparisons to other politicians’ actions. Trum
Truth or Fiction?→ Elon Musk’s Pride Tweet
As Pride Month kicked off in June 2023, a post featuring a tweet attributed to Twitter owner Elon Musk was shared to Reddit’s r/WhitePeopleTwitter: From woke to joke by u/DemocracyStan in WhitePeopleTwitter The Reddi
Truth or Fiction?→ AOC Parody Account on Twitter Aims to Confuse
On May 30 2023, screenshots appeared of a tweet by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York), about a verified “parody account” targeting her: FYI there’s a fake account on here impersonating me and going viral. The Twitter CEO has e
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Clinical Trials For MRNA Universal Influenza Vaccine Will NOT Involve Only ’50 Healthy Volunteers’ To ‘Assess The Safety’
Will a new mRNA universal flu vaccine only be tested on 50 volunteers to "assess the safety" of the experimental shot? No, that's not true: New drugs and medicines in the United States go through rigorous testing and three phases of clini
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Only 11 People’ Responsible for Majority of ‘Book Ban’ Requests?
On May 23 2023, several social media posts popped up with the jarring claim that a majority of book removal or book ban requests in American schools were an effort by the same eleven individuals: This is what white minority rule looks like.https://t.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Elon Musk Did NOT Tweet That ‘The World Is Flat’ in 2022
Did Elon Musk write that "the world is flat" on Twitter in April 2022? No, that's not true: The viral image of the supposed entry appears to have been digitally altered. Archived versions of Musk's account do not contain such a tweet. The
Truth or Fiction?→ Ann Coulter NAACP Tweet
On May 2023, a Reddit user shared an image to r/WhitePeopleTwitter, which was purportedly a screengrab of a tweet in which right-wing pundit Ann Coulter referenced a NAACP travel warning issued for Florida: The GOP needs to piss off by
Truth or Fiction?→ Rep. Jack Kimble: ‘A Whopping 25% of American Students Are in the Bottom …’
On May 21 2023, a Reddit user shared a screenshot of a tweet about American students attributed to a “Rep. Jack Kimble” to the subreddit r/technicallythetruth: Can’t decide if this is satire by u/ShubhamG77 in tec
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Denzel Washington Did NOT Refuse To Work For Disney’s ‘Woke Cinematic Universe’
Did actor Denzel Washington refuse to play the role of a "secretly gay" character in a Disney superhero movie? No, that's not true: A satirical website originally published the article that makes this claim. The story (archived here) was
Lead Stories→ Plag-AI-rism: How Lead Stories Used ChatGPT To Find A False Story about Tucker Carlson … That Was ‘Plagiarised’ With ChatGPT
So you've probably read all those warnings from pundits, academics and researchers about how generative AI tools like ChatGPT are going to impact disinformation and fact checking. And you may have even seen some recent examples of a deep-
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Cheating Partners, pH Mix Do NOT Cause UTIs, Yeast Infections
Do cheating partners or "pHs that don't mix" contribute to urinary tract or yeast infections? No, that's not true: While sexual activity can increase the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and yeast infections, there can be other cau
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Trisha Yearwood Is NOT Endorsing, Selling Weight-Loss Gummies
Is country singer Trisha Yearwood endorsing or selling weight-loss gummies? No, that's not true: Yearwood has denied that she made any such endorsement and Lead Stories did not find publicly available evidence that she has previously endo
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Tucker Carlson Did NOT File Suit Against Whoopi, ‘The View’ for ‘Dehumanizing’ Remarks
Did former Fox News host Tucker Carlson file suit against Whoopi Goldberg and "The View," the TV talk show she moderates, for dehumanizing remarks? No, that's not true: This article was published by the Dunning-Kruger Times, one of severa
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Pentagon, CDC NOT Planning For Zombie Apocalypse — These Were Training Materials
Are the Pentagon and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) planning for a zombie apocalypse? No, that's not true: The Department of Defense created a fictitious scenario for a training program for the U.S. Strategic Co
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Robot Did NOT Commit Suicide — It Fell During Trade Show Demo
Did a robot that experienced "wage slavery" for 15 minutes commit suicide after determining that was the logical choice rather than to continue working? No, that's not true: The video was posted by Agility Robotics, celebrating the 99-per
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Video By Bitcoin Mining Company Riot Platforms Does NOT Prove Zero Carbon Emissions
Does a video put out by a Bitcoin mining company prove that their operation produces zero carbon emissions? No, that's not true: The video only demonstrates that a facility filled with computers doesn't produce smog like a factory might.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: mRNA Vaccination Of Animals Does NOT Cause Involuntary Vaccination Of Humans Who Eat Their Meat
Do mRNA vaccines used on animals cause the involuntary vaccination of the people who eat their meat? No, that's not true: The Nebraska Center for Virology says there are "no commercial veterinary mRNA vaccines," but even if the shots were
Lead Stories→ Lead Stories Launches AI-Powered FactGPT Fact Checking Chatbot
As you could tell by the date, this was an April Fools' joke and we didn't really launch a mad conspiracy-spewing AI bot. Hope you enjoyed it! Colorado Springs - Award-winning fact checking organization Lead Stories is proud to announce t
FactCheck.org→ FactChecking Trump’s Rally, Fox Interview
In his first 2024 campaign rally in Waco, Texas, and in a recent interview, former President Donald Trump repeated many claims we’ve fact-checked before — but he also made new false and unsupported statements: In talking about the FBI
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Lauren Boebert Satirical Tweet About ‘Millions Of Boating Accidents’ Caused By ATF Pistol Braces Ban Widely Misinterpreted
Did Rep. Lauren Boebert literally mean that banning pistol braces is causing "millions of boating accidents" when she posted a tweet critical of "Biden's ATF rule"? No, that's not true: The term "boating accident" is a well-known in-joke
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Video Does NOT Show Alien Boarding Spaceship Before Flying Away — It’s Clip From Sci-Fi Short Film
Does a short video show in reality a lanky extraterrestrial boarding a hovering spaceship in a snowy field before flying away above a Siberian forest? No, that's not true: The animated clip is a cropped version of a science fiction short
Full Fact→ There is no free ‘mystery bus’ in Brussels
A viral Twitter joke about a bus supposedly called ‘not the 48’ is being taken seriously by some.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Fentanyl Does NOT Kill On Skin Contact
Can fentanyl be lethal during brief contact with the skin? No, that's not true: While this drug can alleviate pain in cancer and post-surgery patients in hospital settings via skin patches, this type of absorption is an extremely slow pro
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Elon Musk Is NOT Buying Facebook
Is Elon Musk buying Facebook? No, that's not true: The article saying so has a clear disclaimer at the end that reads, "Recall that this is satire and not actual news." The claim originated in an article (archived here) published by Topad
FactCheck.org→ McCarthy Is Supportive of Raskin’s Head Covering, Contrary to Online Posts
Quick Take Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland wears head coverings on the House floor to cover his hair loss while undergoing treatment for cancer. Social media posts falsely claim that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a Republican, refuse
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: ‘Local’ Vigilante Did NOT Shoot Down ‘Chinese Spy Balloon’ — Image Shows Comedian Sam Hyde
Did a "local man" singlehandedly shoot down "in an EXTRAORDINARY act of vigilantism" the "Chinese spy balloon" recently flying over the continental United States? No, that's not true: The meme that makes this vigilante claim shows a comed
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: NO Evidence ‘DoctorTruth Batana Oil’ Reverses Hair Loss
Does "DoctorTruth batana oil" reverse hair loss and potentially stimulate hair growth? No, that's not true: A board-certified dermatologist said he does not recommend it, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) told Lead Stories batana
Truth or Fiction?→ Donald Trump and Bob Woodward ‘Depends’ Tweet
On January 31 2023, a screenshot purportedly of a tweet by journalist Bob Woodward disclosing information about former United States President Donald Trump’s “Depends” [sic] appeared on Imgur: At the top of the image, the name “
Truth or Fiction?→ 2023 Connecticut Egg Production Plant Fire Rumors
On January 29 2023, right-wing Twitter personality and longtime disinformation purveyor Elijah Schaffer tweeted a video which tied together two popular narratives by purportedly depicting “one of the largest egg production plants” burning d
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: A&W Did NOT Put Pants On Company’s Mascot Bear ‘Rooty’ In Response To Complaints
Did the A&W chain selling American food and root beer admit that its mascot, Rooty the Great Root Beer Bear, was "polarizing" for his pantlessness? Did the company decide to portray him wearing jeans from now on? No, that's not true:
Truth or Fiction?→ Pink Floyd’s ‘Woke’ 50th Anniversary Rainbow Controversy
On January 19 2023, popular Twitter account @TravisAkers tweeted the following screenshot, purportedly illustrating backlash aimed at rock band Pink Floyd over a 50th anniversary “rainbow” logo on Facebook: Pink Floyd updated their profil
Truth or Fiction?→ Eggs, Chickens, and ‘Windfall Profit Tax’ Tweets
Amid concerns about the lack of availability and rocketing prices of eggs, a popular January 15 2023 post to Reddit’s r/SandersForPresident touched on one of the topics contained in public discussions: We need a windfall profits tax.
Truth or Fiction?→ Robin Williams: ‘Politicians Should Wear Sponsor Jackets’ Like NASCAR Drivers …
In January 2023, a viral tweet from late December 2022 continued to circulate, with a purported quip from late comedian and actor Robin Williams that politicians ought to wear “sponsor jackets” like NASCAR drivers: Robin Williams was righ
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Elon Musk Did NOT Buy ABC And Cancel ‘The View’ — Story Originated On A Satire Website
Did Elon Musk buy the ABC Network and cancel its daytime talk show "The View"? No, that's not true: This is a fabricated story that originated on a satire website run by Christopher Blair, who plainly discloses that "everything on this we
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Michelle Obama’s Doctor Did NOT Go On Record About Seeing Proof That She Is Male — This Story Is Satire From A Liberal Troll
Did Michelle Obama's doctor go on the record about the former first lady using a urinal during the 2008 presidential campaign, thereby proving that she is a man? No, that's not true: The article making this claim originated in 2017 on a n
Truth or Fiction?→ A Brief History of New York Times Crossword Puzzle Swastikas
On December 19 2022, an Imgur account shared a screenshot of a tweet claiming that the December 18 2022 New York Times crossword puzzle was in the shape of a swastika: .@NYTimes Last straw. On the first night of Hanukkah?! I’m done with you. It’