Current Netlore: Celebrities

Internet hoaxes, email rumors and urban legends

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Al Gore Airlifted Katrina Vitcims out of New Orleans
Email flier credits former vice-president Al Gore with arranging the airlift evacuation of more than 140 hospital patients from New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Al Gore's Electric Bill
Forwarded email claims that global warming crusader Al Gore's personal energy consumption far exceeds that of the average American household.

Al Gore vs. Christianity
The U.S. Vice President allegedly calls Christians "a blight on the environment."

AP Releases 'Sports Rolodex' Phone Numbers by Mistake
Circulating via forwarded email - a long, long list of phone numbers of important sports figures accidentally distributed by the Associated Press.

'The Bachelor' Tells All in Email Exchange
Did Alex Michel of ABC's "The Bachelor" admit in email correspondence with a friend that the TV show was rigged?

Barack Obama Is a 'Stealth' Muslim
Email rumor alleges that probable U.S. presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama is actually a loyal Muslim who has lied about his religious background, including his claim to being a devoted Christian.

Ben Stein's Christmas Confessions
Circulating via email, a commentary on the state of American culture attributed to author and game show host Ben Stein.

Bette Midler Letter to President Bush on Gay Marriage
A widely circulated email criticizing President Bush's stance on gay marriage is falsely attributed to Bette Midler.

Bill Cosby's Write-in Platform for President
Circulating online, a "presidential platform" attributed to "write-in candidate" Bill Cosby. He did not write it.

Bill Gates' 11 Rules of Life
Circulating via email, the text of a speech allegedly given by Bill Gates in which he sets out 11 rules of life for today's high school students.

Britney Spears: Dead at 19
A radio prank aided and abetted by Internet hoaxers circumnavigates the globe.

Celebrity Death Rumors: Greatly Exaggerated
Bill Nye, Bill Gates, Steve Burns and others falsely reported "dead" on the Internet.

Charlie Daniels on Illegal Immigration
Forwarded email combines two op-ed pieces written by country singer Charlie Daniels on the hot topic of illegal immigration and what should be done about it.

Charlie Daniels: Open Letter to the Hollywood Bunch
Circulating by email: Acrimonious open letter to antiwar celebrities was indeed penned by prowar celebrity Charlie Daniels.

Churchill, Farmer Fleming and Penicillin
Did the son of a Scottish farmer who allegedly saved the life of the young Winston Churchill grow up to become the inventor of penicillin, which supposedly saved the life of the adult Churchill many years later?

Ciara's Sex-Change Operation
Internet rumors are flying to the effect that hip-hop/R&B star Ciara was born a man and is either a transvestite or underwent a sex-change operation to become a transsexual.

Cindy Williams vs. Military Pay Raise
Did the actress who played Shirley in "Laverne and Shirley" pen an editorial decrying military pay increases?

'Clothes' by Maya Angelou
"Poem" purportedly written by Maya Angelou criticizes African Americans for buying clothing manufactured by allegedly racist companies.

Dame Edna Insults Hispanics in Vanity Fair
Email petition urges a boycott of Vanity Fair magazine due to alleged racism in its "Ask Dame Edna" column.

Denzel Washington Funded a Fisher House for Military Families
Email rumor claims actor Denzel Washington, after visiting a charity-funded 'Fisher House' provided for families of hospitalized American soldiers, wrote a check on the spot for the full amount to build a new one.

Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep Interview w/Katie Couric
Circulating via email: embellished version of a politically-charged TV interview hosted by Katie Couric and featuring 'Manchurian Candidate' stars Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep.

Dick Van Dyke's Name Change
Heartwarming story of a talented young man who overcame a tragic christening to become a rich and famous television star.

Eddie Murphy/Michael Jordan Mistaken for Muggers
New email versions of this old urban legend have Eddie Murphy and Michael Jordan scaring the heck out of white people on elevators.

Eminem Died in a Car Crash
A phony "CNN" article claims that Eminem, drunk and on drugs, died recently in a horrible automobile accident.

George Carlin's Hurricane Rules
A sarcastic rant purportedly authored by comedian George Carlin (or New Orleans musician Bill Boudreux, depending on version) outlining 'rules' for coping in the aftermath of a hurricane.

George Carlin's Solution to Save Gasoline
Statement falsely attributed to comedian George Carlin says the best way to cut down on gasoline consumption in the U.S. is to deport 11 million illegal immigrants.

Good Luck, Mr. Gorsky
What Neil Armstrong really said when he first set foot on the moon.

G.W. Bush Leads a Teenager to Christ
For the new President of the U.S., there's always time to save souls - even at public banquets attended by thousands.

'Hanoi Jane' Fonda
Allegations about Fonda's activities as an anti-war activist are partly fact and partly fiction.

Hillary vs. Arnold
Did Hillary Clinton and Arnold Schwarzenegger exchange insulting witticisms during a chance encounter at a party?

Hugh Downs: Obama Will Lose
Circulating online, an op-ed piece falsely attributed to Hugh Downs predicts Barack Obama will lose the 2008 presidential election because he is a "flake."

I Am a Bad American
Email rant on behalf of political incorrectness is falsely attributed to comedian George Carlin and other celebrities.

Jaleel White ('Steve Urkel') Is Dead!
Bogus news story circulating via email claims actor Jaleel White, who played Steve Urkel on the TV show 'Family Matters,' is dead by suicide.

Jamie Foxx: NBC Refuses to Publicize TV Special
Email rumor claims NBC refused to promote Jamie Foxx's January 25, 2006 TV special, 'Unpredictable,' because no white entertainers were invited to guest star on the show.

Jane Fonda: 'Do You Know Who I Am?'
A story circulating since the mid-1990s claims Jane Fonda and Ted Turner were kicked out of a Montana restaurant by its owner, a Vietnam veteran.

Janet Reno Defines 'Cultist'
This utterly bogus quote attributed to Janet Reno several years ago is still circulating.

Jay Leno Hits the Nail on the Head
Article attributed to Tonight Show host Jay Leno labels the majority of Americans 'ungrateful, spoiled brats' for saying they're unhappy with the current direction of the country.

Jennifer Aniston Email
The truth about a set of photos (sorry, not posted here) taken at the christening of Courteney Cox Arquette's baby, allegedly emailed by Jennifer Aniston.

Johnnie Cochran's Headstone
Circulating via email: a photo purporting to show the headstone of famed lawyer Johnnie Cochran. The inscription reads: "O.J. DID IT."

Judge Roy Moore: 'America the Beautiful'
Circulating via forwarded email: 'America the Beautiful,' a caustic poem attributed to Judge Roy Moore of Alabama.

Julie Andrews: 'My Favorite Things' (AARP Version)
Parody of the song 'My Favorite Things' targeted to elderly people was allegedly sung by Julie Andrews at an AARP benefit on the singer's 69th birthday in October 2004.

Kanye West Fired by Pepsi After Bush Comment
Email flier alleges that Pepsi-Cola fired rapper Kanye West as its spokesperson after he publicly declared that "George Bush doesn't care about black people."

Keith Urban Throws Canadian Fans Out of Concert
Email rumor claims Australian country singer Keith Urban asked Canadian fans to leave one of his performances because their country hasn't participated in the Iraq war effort.

Larry Ellison's Yale Commencement Address
Did Oracle's CEO, Larry Ellison, really call the Yale Class of 2000 a pack of losers?

Lee Marvin and Bob (Captain Kangaroo) Keeshan - War Buddies?
In a story supposedly told by actor Lee Marvin on The Tonight Show years ago, he recalls serving in combat with fellow U.S. Marine Bob Keeshan, whom he called "the bravest man I ever knew."

Lou Reed Is Dead
Not really, but this email hoax fooled several radio stations into reporting Reed's "death" as hard news.

Magic Johnson Is in a Coma, Near Death
Hoax email purporting to be a 'news item' from CNN claims famed basketball player Earvin 'Magic' Johnson is in a coma and dying in a Los Angeles hospital.

Martin Luther King, Jr.
Forwarded email purports to reveal "Four Things You Didn't Know About Martin Luther King, Jr."

Mel Gibson - The Man Without a Face
Film about a disfigured teacher was allegedly based on Mel Gibson's own life.

Mel Gibson Movie 'The Passion' Blames Jews for Christ's Death
Rumor has it that Mel Gibson may harbor anti-Semitic sentiments and that his new movie 'The Passion,' which depicts the last 12 hours of Jesus Christ's life, blames Jews for his crucifixion and death.

Michael Moore vs. Bill Timmins on the Firing of Linda Ronstadt
Purported exchange of open letters between Michael Moore and Aladdin Casino and Hotel president Bill Timmins regarding the expulsion of singer Linda Ronstadt from the Las Vegas showplace.

Michael Moore: Open Letter to President Bush on Katrina
AUTHENTIC: An open letter to G.W. Bush from left wing pundit Michael Moore excoriating the president for his handling of the Hurrican Katrina disaster in New Orleans.

Michael Richards' Self Defense
Circulating via email, a racist rant purportedly delivered by actor/comedian Michael Richards as his 'defense speech in court' for shouting racial epithets at black audience members during a 2006 incident at an L.A. comedy club.

Monica Lewinsky Explains Post-Clinton Weight Loss
Here's what the former White House intern purportedly said on Larry King Live... and evidence that she didn't.

Mr. Rogers Was a Marine Sniper/Navy Seal
Was Fred Rogers, longtime host of the children's TV show 'Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood,' a trained sharpshooter with dozens of kills to his credit as a Marine sniper or Navy Seal?

'Mystic River' Boycott
Email flier urges Americans to boycott the film 'Mystic River' because two of its stars, Sean Penn and Tim Robbins, have made outspoken statements against President Bush and the war in Iraq.

Paris Hilton Stabbed in Jail
An apparent CNN report claiming that jailed heiress Paris Hilton was stabbed multiple times by a disgruntled fellow inmate is a hoax.

Pat Boone: CBS & 60 Minutes Are 'Modern Benedict Arnolds'
Did Pat Boone call CBS and 60 Minutes II 'modern Benedict Arnolds' for their role in revealing the prisoner abuse scandal at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq?

Paul Harvey Comments on 'The Passion' by Mel Gibson
A film review falsely attributed to Paul Harvey praises Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of the Christ.'

Phil Mickelson's Gambling Debts
Did pro golfer Phil Mickelson really rack up a $200,000 debt betting on his own performance in a practice round against three other players in Augusta, Georgia?

Remus Rodham: A Horse Thief by Another Name
Email euphemistically summarizes the life and times of 'Remus Rodham,' supposedly the great-great uncle of former First Lady Hillary Clinton and a horse thief and train robber to boot.

Robin Williams Paid Christopher Reeve's Medical Bills
Rumor circulating since 1996 claims that comedian Robin Williams, lifelong friend of actor Christopher Reeve, promised to pay all the medical bills resulting from the accident that left Reeve paralyzed.

Robin Williams' Plan for Peace
Sarcastic "peace plan" circulating by email since March 2003 is falsely attributed to comedian Robin Williams.

Rush Limbaugh on Compensation of 9/11 Victims vs. Military Families
Short text attributed to Rush Limbaugh points out the unfairness of 9/11 victims' families being paid greater benefits than family members of American military personnel killed in action.

Serena Williams Interview
Circulating via email: a purported interview with black tennis star Serena Williams in which she says dating white men is preferable to dating black men.

Shakira's Anti-Israeli Slur
Did Latin American pop star Shakira really refer to Israelis as "pigs" during an MTV interview?

Sinbad Is Dead
Fake Wikipedia entry claims American actor/comedian Sinbad died of a heart attack on March 14, 2007.

Snoop Dogg Converts to Mormonism
Phony Web page claims rapper Snoop Dogg has decided to convert to the Mormon faith.

Steve 'Crocodile Hunter' Irwin a Born-Again Christian?
Email rumor claims 'Crocodile Hunter' Steve Irwin became a born-again Christian shortly before his death in September 2006.

Steven Spielberg to Make Film on the Crusades
Forwarded email claims Jewish filmmaker Steven Spielberg has announced he will make a gory movie about atrocities committed by Christians during the Crusades in response to Mel Gibson's allegedly anti-Semitic film, 'The Passion of the Christ.'

Steven Spielberg Letter to Mel Gibson
Circulating via email, a letter purportedly written by Steven Spielberg taking actor Mel Gibson to task for making anti-Semitic remarks during his arrest for drunk driving in August 2006.

Tom Cruise & Rob Thomas Caught in the Act
Forwarded email adds a prurient new twist to the rumor that Tom Cruise's impending marriage to Katie Holmes is a sham designed to hide his supposed homosexuality.

Tommy Hilfiger Made Racist Statements on Oprah
That's what the email rumor claims, at any rate. This outright lie dates back several years.

Tupac Is Alive!
Hoax Web page circulating via email purports to be a CNN story revealing that murdered rapper Tupac Shakur is still alive and well and strolling the streets of Beverly Hills.

William Hung Dead of Heroin Overdose
According to Internet rumors, American Idol reject William Hung was found dead of an intentional heroin overdose in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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