
Jessica Radcliffe viral video: Creepy recording of orcas imitating human speech leave people terrified
Jessica Radcliffe
being gruesomely attacked and killed by an orca whale in the middle of a live performance at the 'Pacific Blue Marine Park.'
But several outlets have since claimed to identify that the videos and images are AI-generated. So, was orca trainer Jessica Radcliffe really killed by a killer whale? What is the truth behind the viral video of marine trainer Jessica Radcliffe?
Finance
Value and Valuation Masterclass Batch-1
By CA Himanshu Jain
View Program
Finance
Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 2
By CA Himanshu Jain
View Program
Finance
Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 3
By CA Himanshu Jain
View Program
Artificial Intelligence
AI For Business Professionals
By Vaibhav Sisinity
View Program
Finance
Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 4
By CA Himanshu Jain
View Program
Artificial Intelligence
AI For Business Professionals Batch 2
By Ansh Mehra
View Program
ALSO READ:
When does Battlefield 6 Beta end? Check final hours, BF6 beta ending time, exclusive rewards and more
Jessica Radcliffe viral video
Days after a clip went viral on TikTok allegedly showing Jessica Radcliffe, a whale trainer, being killed by an orca during a performance in front of a live audience, it turns out the entire episode was a hoax. In fact, no official records, news reports or credible sources show that Radcliffe even existed.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Undo
Moreover, there is no proof that the attack even took place and the video is AI-generated. Experts examined the footage and, according to the International Business Times, found that it featured AI-generated voices combined with archival footage.
What are orcas?
As the viral video of Jessica Radcliffe started doing rounds on social media, focus has now turned to orcas, also known as killer whales. Orcas are the largest of the dolphins and one of the world's most powerful predators.
Live Events
ALSO READ:
George Russell fate revealed in The Gilded Age Season 3: Check plot hints, episode details and more
They're immediately recognizable by their distinctive black-and-white coloring. Smart and social, orcas make a wide variety of communicative sounds, and each pod has distinctive noises that its members will recognize even at a distance. They use echolocation to communicate and hunt, making sounds that travel underwater until they encounter objects, then bounce back, revealing their location, size, and shape, according to National Geographic.
Orcas are highly intelligent and are not known for attacking humans. When the killer whales are captured or kept in smaller tanks, they become stressed and attack seafarers.
So, whenever a killer whale gets captured, it becomes a threat to humans. However, looking at the recent trends, researchers are studying orcas that are purposefully attacking vessels, sailboats and sometimes ships as well. They often use a coordinated hunting strategy, working as a team like a pack of wolves.
ALSO READ:
Can Trump invoke a federal takeover of Washington DC? Legal hurdles stand in US President's way
Can Orcas mimick human words?
A 2018 study showed that orcas are intelligent creatures with the ability to mimic human language with uncanny accuracy. In the recordings by a 14-year-old female orca called Wikie, the public seems to be surprised yet simultaneously drawn in by an otherworldly sense.
Published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the study revealed that Wikie was taught to replicate familiar sounds made by her calf. Later, she was introduced to five new orca sounds she had never heard before. In the final phase, Wikie was exposed to six human sounds, including "hello," "Amy," "ah ha," "one, two," and "bye-bye."
ALSO READ:
Is recession coming in US? Expert gives stark warning on high popularity of Labubus
And in a surprising turn of events, Wikie was successful in mimicking these human sounds on her first try which left the researchers astounded. "We wanted to see if we could make them replicate sounds outside their natural repertoire. 'Hello' is not something a killer whale would typically say," explained Josep Call, a co-author of the study and professor at the University of St. Andrews.
The study also highlighted the remarkable vocal adaptability of orcas, despite their anatomical differences from humans. Orca whales lack vocal cords, which are similar to those in humans. However, they can still produce sounds that are close to human speech.
Listeners have been left unnerved by the recordings, with one viewer commenting: "The hello sounded demonic.' And another joked: "OK, that second hello was a little demonic. Was that really an orca, or the Devil speaking through a ghost box LOL The funniest and scariest thing EVER! That's my day, can't stop laughing my head off lol."
But as demonic as the recordings might sound, other viewers have pointed out just how amazing it is to hear the whale mimic humans.
"This makes me tear up, the fact that we live in a such a beautiful world filled with wonderful creatures," one person wrote.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR's ‘War 2' zooms past War's collection at the end of day 2
War 2, starring Hritik Roshan and Jr NTR, is performing well at the box office. The film's opening was slightly lower than War. However, Day 2 collections increased significantly. War 2's two-day total exceeds War's earnings. Strong word of mouth and repeat viewings are driving the film's success. Trade experts predict War 2 will cross Rs 200 crore in its opening weekend. The highly anticipated War 2 directed by Ayan Mukerji, headlined by Hrithik Roshan , Jr NTR , and Kiara Advani , has taken a strong stand at the box office, racing past the numbers of its predecessor War. Back in 2019, War starring Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff was a game-changer for Hindi cinema's action genre. On its opening day ( 2nd October) , the film had posted Rs 53.35 crore net in India, a staggering figure at the time, powered largely by the Hindi version's Rs 51.60 crore. Day 2, however, saw a significant drop, with collections falling to Rs 24.35 crore, marking a steep 54.35% decline. The two-day total stood at Rs 77.70 crore net. Despite the fall, War went on to be a blockbuster, finishing its run with more than Rs 300 crore in India. Fast forward to 2025, and War 2 has rewritten the script. The film opened on Thursday with Rs 51.5 crore net, slightly below War's Day 1 but still massive by any measure. What stunned the trade, however, was the turnaround on Day 2. Instead of slipping, War 2 soared to an estimated Rs 56.50 crore net of which Rs 44 crore came from Hindi version as per Sacnilk. The numbers were driven by strong word of mouth, Hrithik Roshan's strong fanbase, and repeat viewership for its high-octane action. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Secure Your Child's Future with Strong English Fluency Planet Spark Learn More Undo This growth of nearly 10% over opening day is extremely rare for a big-budget action film, particularly on a non-holiday and despite mixed reviews the film garnered. The two-day total of War 2 now stands at Rs 108 crore net, eclipsing War's two-day figure of Rs 77.70 crore by a huge margin. This makes War 2 not only a bigger opener in terms of trajectory but also one of the highest-grossing films in India across its first two days in 2025 so far. For Aditya Chopra and Ayan Mukerji, the numbers signal a strong vote of confidence. Trade experts believe War 2 is on course to cross the Rs 200 crore net mark in its opening weekend, a feat that would make it one of the fastest films to do so in Indian box office history. "Get the latest news updates on Times of India, including reviews of the movie Coolie and War 2 ."


Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
Malaika Arora says people judged her divorce with Arbaaz Khan; admits she was called ‘Selfish' for putting herself first - 'I wanted my marriage to last forever'
Malaika Arora , one of Bollywood's most recognized faces, recently opened up about her divorce from actor-producer Arbaaz Khan , shedding light on the personal battles behind her decision. Speaking with Pinkvilla, the actress admitted that ending the marriage was one of the toughest choices of her life. 'Of course I would have loved for my marriage to be forever. But that didn't happen. That doesn't mean I have lost faith in love, or that I made a huge mistake,' she said. For Malaika, relationships are fragile, and while she tried to make it work, life took another turn. 'What people forget is… you can put yourself first' The actress revealed that while the decision was hers, it came with immense judgment from society. Fingers were pointed at her, with many labeling her choice as selfish. 'What people forget is… people think it's wrong to put yourself first. But what is the harm? I needed to be happy before making anybody else happy. I was not happy. People said, 'What a selfish decision,' but I did what I felt was right. Today, I feel that decision has helped me be a better person,' Malaika explained. She stressed that prioritizing her own well-being was not about abandoning responsibilities, but about becoming stronger for herself and her family. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Redefine Your Future with a Top Online MBA SRM Online Enquire Now Undo On co-parenting -'It has its challenges' Malaika also opened up about co-parenting her son, Arhaan Khan, with Arbaaz. 'It has its challenges. It's not the easiest thing on planet Earth. But after all these years, we have found a good balance. Arhaan is 22 now and knows what to talk about with his mother and what to address with his father. We have our boundaries, and that works for us,' she shared. Despite the struggles, Malaika remains hopeful about love. 'I am hopeless in love, I am loyal in love. Love is ever-changing, and so am I,' she added. Arjun Kapoor spotted at cousin Sonam Kapoor's Diwali bash, Maliaka Arora oozes glamour in her stunning attire "Get the latest news updates on Times of India, including reviews of the movie Coolie and War 2 ."


Time of India
36 minutes ago
- Time of India
Inside Kiara Advani's 3 months regime for 'War 2' prep: From pancakes to steady cardio and a sound 8 hour sleep, here's what we know
Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR starrer 'War 2' seems to be living up to the hype. On the one hand, the songs created a buzz even before the release; on the other hand, the gripping chase sequences have added to the charm. And though the chemistry of Hrithik and Jr. NTR is keeping the audience glued to the edges of their seats, what's winning and melting hearts of cinephiles is the stunning looks of Kiara Advani . The 34-year-old actress has taken her glam game to the next level in 'War 2.' From her sharp features to her toned physique, everything about her look in the movie turned heads right from the word go. And to attain this look, the actress followed a 3-month strict routine, which included 3 major elements - a non-negotiable diet with pancakes, a well-structured workout plan, and quality 8-hour sleep. Breaking down Kiara Advani's 'War 2' look prep - Step 1: A strict det Kiara Advani's nutritionist and integrative health coach, Nicole Linhares Kedia, recently sat with NDTV to spill the beans on what all the actress did to look her best in 'War 2.' To get this snatached look, Kiara had some non-negotiables in her diet; for example, protein pancakes as the first meal of the day. Made with all healthy ingredients, these were prepared using oat flour, walnut flour, protein powder, water, and a touch of maple syrup. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Live Update: The Strategy Uses By Successful Intraday Trader TradeWise Learn More Undo There were times monk fruit was included in the recipe as a natural sweetener for the pancakes. And now coming to the toppings, they used to be Kiara's favourite - fresh berries and homemade hazelnut butter. Nicole mentioned that Kiara Advani focused on clean eating for her role, which involved thoughtfully prepared meals that kept her satisfied throughout the day. She also paid attention to the portion size, along with ensuring adequate water intake. Water intake was another non-negotiable; 'She had to have 3 and a half litres of water," said the nutritionist. With the idea of keeping the meals light yet protein-rich, for lunch and dinner, she was given grilled chicken, chicken curries, asparagus, baby potatoes, avocado, and veggie crudités with edamame pesto hummus. All of these are the actress's favorite. These meals were 'carefully aligned with her training demands and shoot schedule," shared Nicole. Then her post-workout snack was the traditional Indian drink - sattu chaas. Nichole mentioned, 'The focus was always on fueling her with familiar, wholesome foods that supported her goals while keeping things realistic and sustainable." And how can we forget the cheat meals! Here as well, the health coach was very thoughtful about the snacks, which worked as healthy alternatives for a cheat meal. Nicole shared, "Kiara stayed locked in on her goal, fully committed and consistent - no cutting corners, no complaining. Still, we built in a few simple comforts now and then, including a touch of Parmesan on her zoodles (zucchini noodles) or salad, or a square of dark chocolate after dinner. It helped her stay on track without feeling deprived. It's not about being extreme - it's about creating something that lasts." Kiara Advani's workout routine during 'War 2' prep Her Workout Routine Since Kiara's meals were prepared in accordance with her workout plan, Nicole stayed in constant touch both with the actor and her fitness trainer. "She did a lot of isolation workouts for her upper body than her lower body. Kiara Advani's workout also included steady state cardio," she shared. The steady cardio helped Kiara reach the fat-burning zone. The 8-hour sleep "Kiara Advani had to put aside her phone post 9:30 pm and fall asleep while reading a book and listening to a podcast," shared Nichole. The health coach and her team even coordinated with chefs in the hotels she stayed at to keep her meals on point and ensure her sleep pattern and timing were not disturbed. Kiara had to prioritise 8 hours of sleep during the shooting of the film. And this is how Kiara Advani achieved her perfect physique for the character in her latest movie 'War 2.' "Get the latest news updates on Times of India, including reviews of the movie Coolie and War 2 ."