Embarrassments

Urban legends are primarily expressions of our fears, and one of the things we fear the most is being embarrassed. And, as this collection of legends demonstrates, we can be embarrassed in a bountiful variety of ways.

Was Prince Philip Friends with Jeffrey Epstein? As with many stories concerning British royalty, there is a lot of conjecture to wade...

Unproven

Was Fucking (the Town in Austria, That Is) Renamed? Rumor has it the infamously named town has officially been bowdlerized.

True

Did Pope Francis’ Instagram Account ‘Like’ a Racy Photo? The Vatican reportedly has launched an investigation into the account.

True

Did John Barnes Appear on TV With Porn DVDs Behind Him? A supposed embarrassing accident led to some online mockery of the former soccer player.

False

Did These Pencils Accidentally Promote Doing Drugs? Some mistakes are harder to erase.

True

Did a Drunk Crop Duster Drop Manure From the Sky in Kansas? A routine review of content labeled satire.

Labeled Satire

Does Barack Obama’s Official Portrait Contain Secret Images of Sperm? Far-right pundits went off the deep end after African-American artist Kehinde Wiley's portrait of Barack...

False

Delivery Person Mistaken for Troll Legend about a developmentally disabled adult who captures a delivery person (or other front door...

Legend

'The Heel in the Grate' Wedding Legend Legend: A bridesmaid walking down the aisle at a wedding caught her spike heel in...

‘Up the Butt, Bob’ Did a "Newlywed Game" contestant say the weirdest place she'd ever "made whoopee" was "up...

True

Fake Phone Embarrassment Businessman trying to impress others is embarrassingly caught talking into a fake phone.

Groom Test 'Dear Abby' letter details an unusual posed to a young man by his fiancée's parents.