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Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fact Check: No, a judge did not slap White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt
Claim: Videos accurately reported that a judge slapped White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in court. Rating: In April and May 2025, claims that a judge slapped White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt spread online. For example, a YouTube video (archived) that had 75,000 views as of this writing made the claim that the judge supposedly slapped Leavitt and then his "corrupt empire began to crumble": This was not the only video making those claims. At least three more YouTube videos of varying lengths repeated the same allegations, as did a few TikTok videos. This claim was false. Three of the YouTube videos said the judge's was Edward Hargrove of Washington, D.C., while the fourth claimed he name was Richard Franklin of Boston. The language was similar in each of the supposed reports, though the voice and image changed. All voices had a mechanical quality, suggesting they were generated by artificial intelligence. Further, Snopes ran screen captures of the videos into AI detectors SightEngine and WasItAI and confirmed they were AI-made. Thorough Google and Google News searches revealed no report of such an incident. Searches using keywords "Edward Hargrove" and "Richard Franklin" also revealed no such story. Further, one of the YouTube videos included a disclaimer, which appeared for a fraction of a second at the beginning, that read as follows (emphasis ours): (YouTube user Mythos Unveiled) DISCLAIMER ALL INFORMATION IN THIS VIDEO IS COMPILED FROM REPUTABLE AND RELIABLE NEWS SOURCES. HOWEVER, THE CONTENT IS INTENDED SOLELY FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES TO HELP VIEWERS GAIN A BROADER UNDERSTANDING AND PERSPECTIVE ON FAMOUS FIGURES. THIS CONTENT IS NOT INTENDED TO OFFEND OR HARM ANYONE. WE DO NOT CLAIM THAT ALL THE INFORMATION IN THE VIDEO IS ENTIRELY ACCURATE OR COMPLETE. HOWEVER, WE DO NOT DISTORT OR MISREPRESENT THE ORIGINS OF THE INFORMATION WE PRESENT. THEREFORE, VIEWERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONSULT MULTIPLE SOURCES FOR THE MOST WELL-ROUNDED PERSPECTIVE. THANK YOU By mixing true and misleading information as well as using emotionally charged language, such videos about baseless celebrity rumors often generate hundreds or thousands of comments from YouTube users. Some of those messages indicate that people interpret the videos to be real news. Snopes has verified several such videos, including one that claimed Oprah Winfrey had fled the country following Sean Combs' arrest and another that claimed Jennifer Lopez had left the U.S. for similar reasons. Dobrin, Nikki. "Rumors Jennifer Lopez Fled the US after 'Massive Threat' from Diddy Are False." Snopes, 13 Nov. 2024, Accessed 9 May 2025. Rascouët-Paz, Anna. "FBI Revealed Oprah Fled US after 'Diddy Footage' Leak?" Snopes, 15 Nov. 2024, Accessed 9 May 2025.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fact Check: Don't fall for AI videos about Musk's young son praising Jesus on live TV
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways Claim: Billionaire White House adviser Elon Musk's young son X spoke about Jesus on a live televised talk show. Rating: Rating: False In April and May 2025, a rumor spread online that billionaire White House adviser Elon Musk's young son X Æ A-Xii, who goes by X for short, went on a televised talk show and made inspirational comments about Jesus. X Musk, who was 5 years old at the time of this writing, is one of three children Musk shares with his former partner, the musician Grimes. The rumor appeared in numerous similar videos on YouTube and Facebook with titles such as "What Elon Musk's Son Just Said About JESUS Will Leave You Speechless" and "Elon Musk's Son X JUST Said THIS About Jesus on Live TV – This Will Reach Millions!" Some of the videos had racked up more than 400,000 views each by the time of this writing. Snopes readers searched our site for information on whether it was true that Musk's son spoke about Jesus on live TV. In short, the rumor did not reflect reality and, instead, was a work of pure fiction, as disclaimers on many of the videos explicitly stated. As a result, we have rated the claim false. For example, the description sections of versions posted to YouTube on April 21 and May 3 included text reading: DISCLAIMER The stories presented on this channel are entirely fictional and crafted solely for entertainment. Any resemblance to real events, individuals, or situations is purely coincidental and unintentional. These narratives are not intended to depict, reference, or represent any actual occurrences, persons, or entities. Some of the videos' descriptions also contained separate disclaimers noting that their creators used artificial intelligence (AI) tools to generate the clips' audio and video. AI image detectors WasItAI and Sightengine both concluded that images from the videos that purported to show X were indeed the products of AI software. (YouTube accounts Moments of Grace and Nebula Scribe) Notably, the boy's hairstyle and eye color differed from video to video — and none of the images were a perfect visual match for the real X, who has appeared in numerous authentic news photos thanks to Musk's habit of bringing his son to White House events. The videos also contained details that were not supported by any real-world evidence. One, for example, said around the 16:16 mark that major news networks including CNN and Fox News picked up the story. However, it was not possible to find any coverage of X Musk talking about Jesus on either network's website. Another video claimed (around the 16:05 mark) that the child's alleged words resulted in the hashtag #XOnJesus trending worldwide. At the time of this writing, there was no evidence that any user had ever used that hashtag on either X or Facebook. This was not the first heartwarming-but-fictional story about Elon Musk that Snopes has fact-checked. For example, we previously looked into the false claims that he funded prosthetics for police dogs and that he became the guardian of an abandoned baby. Sources: "Elon Musk and Grimes' 3 Kids: All About X Æ A-Xii, Exa Dark Sideræl and Techno Mechanicus (and What the Singer Has Said About Co-Parenting with the Tech CEO)." Accessed 7 May 2025. "Elon Musk and His Son X Æ Walk on the South Lawn of the White House..." Getty Images, 14 Apr. 2025, "Elon Musk Carries His Son X Æ A-Xii on His Shoulders in the Oval..." Getty Images, 11 Feb. 2025, "Elon Musk, His Son, X Æ A-Xii, and Musk's Mother, Maye Musk Arrive At..." Getty Images, 3 Mar. 2025, Liles, Jordan. "Elon Musk Didn't Fund Robotic Legs for Injured Police Dogs." Snopes, 25 Apr. 2025, ---. "Musk Didn't Become Guardian of Abandoned Newborn Baby." Snopes, 8 Apr. 2025, "U.S. President Donald Trump and Æ A-Xii, the Son of White House..." Getty Images, 14 Mar. 2025,
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fact Check: Yes, Trump posted an AI image of himself as pope on Truth Social
Claim: In May 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump posted an artificial intelligence-generated image of himself as pope on Truth Social. Rating: In May 2025, as Catholics around the world mourned the death of Pope Francis and days before the conclave to elect a new pope was set to begin, claims began to spread online that U.S. President Donald Trump had posted an artificial intelligence-generated image of himself as pope. This followed an interview Trump gave in which he quipped he'd be his own first choice to be pope, sparking outrage. For example, an X user posted about the image, recalling the uproar former President Barack Obama caused by wearing a tan suit in 2014 and calling out what they saw as the relative lack of criticism of a representation of Trump wearing a papal miter (archived): The post had 1.3 million views and 48,000 likes as of this writing. The claim, with the same image, further spread on X, Facebook and Reddit. Meanwhile, Snopes readers searched the site seeking to confirm whether Trump shared it. The claim is true. On May 2, 2025, the Trump posted this image on Truth Social (archived): (Truth Social user @realDonaldTrump) Snopes ran the image through SightEngine and WasItAI, two AI detection engines, and confirmed that it was AI-generated. The image adopts many of the visual codes traditionally associated with the papacy. In it, Trump wears a white miter with golden embroidery and the white cassock popes usually wear, with a golden cross on a golden chain around his neck. He is sitting on a golden throne and is pointing up with his right hand. The image, posted without comment, had garnered more than 36,000 likes as of this writing. Thirty-eight minutes after Trump posted it, the official X account for the White House shared a screen capture of the Truth Social post, receiving more than 103 million views and more than 200,000 likes as of this writing (archived): "Conclave to Elect a New Pope Will Start on May 7." AP News, 28 Apr. 2025, Kuchar, Savannah. 'Barack Obama's Tan Suit Gate: What to Know on the 10th Anniversary'. USA TODAY, Accessed 5 May 2025. "Pope Francis, First Latin American Pontiff Who Ministered with a Charming, Humble Style, Dies at 88." AP News, 21 Apr. 2025, Rascouët-Paz, Anna. 'Yes, Lindsey Graham Said He Supports Trump's Bid for the Papacy — as a Joke'. Snopes, 30 Apr. 2025,
Express Tribune
27-03-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Fact check debunks Elon Musk–Neuralink story involving sick child
Listen to article A heartwarming story circulating online about Elon Musk personally funding medical treatment and arranging a Neuralink brain implant for a young girl has been confirmed to be entirely fabricated. The claim, which gained traction on social media in late March 2025, stated that Musk stepped in to help Lily Thompson, a 7-year-old girl suffering from a rare neurological condition. Posts included an image allegedly showing Musk beside the child in a hospital bed, with captions celebrating his generosity and involvement. According to the story, Musk paid over $2 million in medical expenses and arranged for an experimental Neuralink chip to be implanted in Lily's brain, leading to a near-miraculous recovery. However, a fact check reveals that no credible evidence supports any part of the claim. Timeline and evidence contradict the story The timeline presented in the original article from was implausible. It claimed that Musk learned of the child's case on March 22, yet she had supposedly undergone surgery and begun recovering by the article's publication on March 23—an impossible sequence of events. Additionally, searches for associated hashtags like #MuskSaves and #NeuralinkMiracle yielded little to no relevant results, despite claims that social media "erupted with praise." A Google search found no legitimate news coverage of the incident, which would almost certainly have been reported widely if true. AI-generated content Experts also flagged the image and text as likely AI-generated. The article and associated image were analyzed using AI detection tools, including ZeroGPT, GPTZero, WasItAI, and Decopy AI, all of which indicated a high probability that the content was created by artificial intelligence. Photo: Facebook page Just the Facts Neuralink's real clinical trials don't involve children Neuralink began human trials in 2024 with a chip implanted in an adult quadriplegic man. While the patient has spoken positively about his experience, there has been no recovery of motor function. He primarily uses the chip to play computer games, and hopes to control a wheelchair in the future. Elon Musk confirmed in January 2025 that only three adults had received the implant so far, with plans to expand to 30 additional adult volunteers later this year. According to Neuralink's official eligibility guidelines, only legal adults can participate in its trials—no children have been approved. Family, name, and story not real There is no medical record, public report, or news article confirming the existence of Lily Thompson in connection to Neuralink or Elon Musk. The narrative appears to be a completely fictional tale designed to go viral—likely for engagement or to paint Musk in a flattering light. The story about Elon Musk paying a child's medical bills and arranging a Neuralink brain implant is false. It lacks evidence, features AI-generated content, and contradicts known facts about Neuralink's ongoing trials. Readers are advised to verify such claims with credible sources before sharing.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Fact Check: No, these aren't real photos showing mammoth skeleton's excavation
Claim: Four images shared in social media posts were authentic photographs of a well-preserved mammoth skeleton discovered at a North American archaeological site. Rating: Since 2024, a set of images has circulated online that allegedly shows the excavation of the complete skeleton of a mammoth. Mammoths were a type of large elephant that went extinct around 4,000 years ago, according to the Natural History Museum in London. Two of the images appeared in multiple (archived) Facebook posts (archived) that paired them with a caption reading "Well-Preserved Mammoth Skeleton Unearthed at North America's Prominent Archaeological Site." (Facebook user Husky Chukcha) Other Facebook posts featured a collage that contained one of the same images alongside two different images that appeared to show the remains of mammoths emerging from the ground. The captions of these posts claimed the images showed a 15,000-year-old mammoth skeleton in North Africa. (Facebook user DiggingInto Archaeology) In short, none of the four images included in these posts were authentic photos of the remains of real mammoths. As a result, we've rated the images as fake. Although we have not yet identified the original creator or creators of the images, they all showed signs of being the products of artificial intelligence software. The AI image detectors WasItAI and Illuminarty both found a high likelihood that someone created the images using AI. Visual clues in the images also signaled that the images did not reflect reality. The skeletons in the images had multiple features that did not match the anatomy of real mammoth specimens held in the collections of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. Most obviously, the alleged skeletal mammoth remains in the images investigated here included trunks and ears, which are respectively highlighted in red and yellow in the collage below. In one of the images, visible in the upper right corner of the collage, the mammoth's trunk also appeared to end in a tusklike point. As is the case for those of modern elephants, mammoth trunks did not contain any bones, nor did they have sharp tips. Instead, real mammoth trunks consisted primarily of muscle. The external parts of mammoths' ears were likewise boneless (although, like humans, mammoths did have bones in their middle ears). (Facebook users HuskyChukcha [left] and DiggingInto Archaeology [right]) Other anatomical features seen in the images also failed to match the real anatomy of mammoths, such as the oddly branching ribs visible in the image that appeared in all the posts linked above. The ribs in question are outlined in blue in the above collage. In another image, which seemingly showed the mammoth skeleton from the rear, the mammoth appeared to have three separate tails emerging from its rump: one consisting of a single long, pointed bone and the other two resembling claws or talons, as can be seen surrounded by a green box in the above collage. By contrast, real mammoths had only one tail each, and their tails were part of their vertebral columns — meaning they consisted of many smaller bones. Finally, a real newly excavated mammoth skeleton would not stand upright on its own, as the skeletons in the images appeared to do. In order to produce the effect that a specimen is standing up, museum workers and other professionals who work with the fossils of mammoths, dinosaurs, and other animals must build and install complex mounts to support the bones and hold them in place. Another hint that the posts about the alleged discovery did not reflect reality was the inconsistency of information included in text form in posts sharing the images. As mentioned above, some posts implied the discovery was North African, while others said the location was "North America's Prominent Archaeological Site" — without any indication of which of the North American continent's many archaeological sites was intended. Some Facebook users also pointed out in comments that the scientists who excavate and study the fossilized remains of animals are called paleontologists, not archaeologists. That said, because mammoths and humans coexisted for tens of thousands of years, it's not unheard of for archaeological sites — that is, sites that show evidence of human activity — to also contain mammoth remains. In the past, we investigated whether another image authentically showed the preserved remains of a baby mammoth that died about 30,000 years ago. Clovis Mammoth Butchery: The Lange/Ferguson Site and Associated Bone Tool Technology – Center for the Study of the First Americans. Accessed 14 Feb. 2025. Dapcevich, Madison. "Authentic Picture of 30,000-Year-Old Baby Mammoth Remains?" Snopes, 14 Apr. 2024, "How Are Skeletal Mounts of Dinosaurs in Museum Exhibits Built?" American Museum of Natural History, July 2012, Mammuthus Primigenius (Blumbach) | 3D Digitization. Accessed 14 Feb. 2025. published, Cameron Duke. "Woolly Mammoths Survived on Mainland North America until 5,000 Years Ago, DNA Reveals." 22 Dec. 2021, The Intersecting Crossroads of Paleontology and Archeology: When Are Fossils Considered Artifacts? (U.S. National Park Service). Accessed 14 Feb. 2025. The Last of the Mammoths | Natural History Museum. Accessed 14 Feb. 2025. TRUTH OR TAIL: An Elephant's Trunk Has over 40,000 Muscles| Cleveland Zoological Society | June 26, 2023. Accessed 14 Feb. 2025.
