There’s fake news, and there’s fake celebrity news. Guess which one is spread the most and does the most damage on social media? You’re so smart. Yup, it’s fake celebrity news.
ExpressVPN’s 2023 Misinformation Index includes a whole lineup of our famous friends who got caught up in a mess of misinformation. Let’s dig into some of the wildest, weirdest stories.
It’s getting Musky in here
No surprise, Elon Musk topped the fake news index with 157,385 engagements. Since the Tesla boss began his reign at X, he’s been criticized for spreading false information so much that it grabbed the attention of the European Union.
Musk is sometimes the subject of fake news himself. One bogus viral video says he invented a quantum AI project to solve poverty. The clip showed Musk on the “Tucker Carlson Tonight” show, but it was debunked because the audio didn’t match the video.
In too deep(fake)
Not even Taylor Swift is immune. A fake story about her went viral on Reddit, complete with an AI-generated photo showing Swift eating ice cream in front of hungry children in Africa — apparently during her Eras tour … except the tour never went to Africa. Oops.
A photo of Selena Gomez at this year’s Met Gala ran rampant online. She wasn’t there. The deepfake creator superimposed her face onto a picture of actress Lily James from last year’s Gala.
Oh baby, baby
A video of pop megastar Rihanna went viral in November, showing her pregnant with her third kiddo with rapper A$AP Rocky. Rih Rih had just given birth in August, so fans were shocked. Yeah, it was a hoax.
Then there was the Meghan Markle conspiracy that her pregnancy was fake and that she hired a surrogate for their two kids. The royal formerly known as Prince Harry is also a fake news favorite.
Harry’s name generated 6,048 engagements on fake news stories after his tell-all biography was released. The juiciest rumor of all? That he was about to get into American politics. Could you imagine? Talk about a nightmare.
Make sure you’re not falling for phony headlines
- Double-check with multiple sources: If it’s a big story, multiple credible news outlets will be on it. See if the story is reported elsewhere by well-known media names.
- Look at the dates: Old stories can be misleadingly presented as current events. Ensure the news is fresh off the press.
- Inspect the images: Fake news loves bogus images. Use reverse image searches to check if the photo is authentic or manipulated.
- Check celebs’ social media: Celebrities often set the record straight on their official social media channels. Look there for genuine updates.
- Utilize fact-checking tools: Websites like Snopes or FactCheck can be your allies in discerning truth from fiction.
Want the full breakdown? Check out the complete list here and see if your favorite celeb made the cut. Btw, ExpressVPN is not a newsletter sponsor, but they do sponsor my national radio show and have for years. I use and recommend their VPN. Use this link to get three months free.