Fact Checks Archive

DONETSK, UKRAINE - FEBRUARY 9: A woman cleans out her damaged apartment in the area near a chemical plant which has suffered artillery shellings on February 09, 2015 in Donetsk, Ukraine. A missile exploded overnight on February 8, 2015 near a chemical plant producing weaponry in a northern suburb of Donetsk, causing a large fireball. Four apartments were burned and many others severely damaged. The shelling of the area continued this morning. (Photo by Pierre Crom/Getty Images)

No, a Nuclear Bomb Wasn’t Detonated in Ukraine in 2015 Nope. A video of a mushroom-cloud explosion at a chemical plant in Donetsk, Ukraine, erroneously...

False

Loretta Lynn Death Hoax (2018) Contrary to a false report circulating in 2018, country singer Loretta Lynn did not die...

Labeled Satire

Climate Protest Miscaptioned as War Footage Thousands of people have already died in the first week of Russia's war on Ukraine.

Miscaptioned

No Evidence for ‘Italian Ghost Train’ Story Who needs a good ghost story to be true, anyway?

False

Keanu Reeves once said, “Grief changes shape, but it never ends. [...] People have a misconception that you can deal with it and say, 'It's gone, and I'm better.' They're wrong.”

Did Keanu Reeves Say, ‘Grief Changes Shape but It Never Ends?’ Quotes seen as deep and thoughtful are often attributed to the widely loved actor.

Correct Attribution

Bill Gates made remarks about the future possibility of a civil war and a hung election, according to Forbes.

Did Bill Gates Say ‘Hung Election and Civil War’ Are Coming? According to Forbes, Gates said that "political polarization may bring it all to an end"...

Research In Progress

Did ‘Killer Clown’ Leave Warning Note to Cancel Halloween or ‘Kids Will Die’? The story of a "killer clown" leaving a threatening note at a school was published...

Labeled Satire

Is It Really Possible To Book the ‘Scream’ House on Halloween? The bookings were advertised in 2021 as a promotion for a new "Scream" sequel.

Outdated

George Zimmerman found dead after tweeting pics of trayvon martin's dead body?

Was George Zimmerman Found Dead After Posting Pics of Trayvon Martin’s Body? Junk news strikes again.

False

Was George Zimmerman Found Dead After Accidentally Shooting Himself While Loading Gun? This story originated on a satirical website in March 2014.

Labeled Satire

Has US Seen Surge in Hate Crimes Against Asian People During COVID? A study released by the California State University, San Bernardino revealed striking numbers.

True

Chapel of the Plains with a lightning strike, Colorado. USA - stock photo

Lightning Strikes Church Did lightning strike a church during a sermon?

True