Misattributed

This rating indicates that quoted material (speech or text) has been incorrectly attributed to a person who didn’t speak or write it.

Learn more about our rating system here.

No, Clint Eastwood Did Not Say ‘The Problem Is Not Guns’

A viral Facebook post specifically credited Eastwood for a quote that did not belong to...

Did George Orwell Say This About Societies That ‘Drift From the Truth’?

Not everything "Orwellian" in its tone is Orwellian in its origins.

Who Said ‘For True Patriots To Be Silent, Is Dangerous’?

Rep. Lauren Boebert attributed this quote to President John Adams, but it was actually said...

Did Jim Carrey Say ‘Close Down National Media for 30 Days’?

We found no record of his having uttered those words, even though he has been...

Did ‘Be Curious, Not Judgmental’ Originate with Walt Whitman?

We're curious, but not judgmental, about how this quote ended up in "Ted Lasso."

Did Macron Say This About the Unvaccinated?

No evidence exists that the French president made a viral quote attributed to him.

Did the ‘Black and Red Ants in a Jar’ Quote Come from David Attenborough?

This ant quote gets shared one by one hoorah? Hoorah?

Did Rupert Murdoch Say Fox News Only Cares About Ratings, Not Facts?

If they were real, these quotes would be front page news — not meme fodder.

Did Anthony Hopkins Write ‘Let Go of People Who Aren’t Ready To Love You Yet’?

Sir Anthony Hopkins is best known for acting — not writing essays.

Is This a Real Quote by Nelson Mandela?

A quote attributed to Mandela, former president of South Africa, said: "Fools divide themselves by...

The American Dream Ended Last Night in Ohio?

A speech by Franklin Graham laments that the American dream ended with the reelection of...

Did Freud Say Before Diagnosing Yourself With Depression, Make Sure You Are Not Just ‘Surrounded By Assholes’?

Sigmund Freud had some questionable scientific views, but was this one of them?