Twice a day we pull the posts going viral on TikTok, Instagram, X and Facebook and run them through the record. Each entry is a published verdict — what we found, why, and the sources behind it.
17 checks
X · @Sir1Real post with photo/video 3,765 likes (X syndication, 20 Oct); MEAWW fact-check 20 Oct 09:12Z
False
The video is authentic footage from Brad Pitt's June 23, 2025 Armchair Expert interview, but the caption's quoted remarks about his children dropping his surname are fabricated and not present in the interview transcript or any credible source.
X · 4,538 likes, 328 replies (syndication); The Spun says 4.1M views; TotalProSports says over 5M (4.8M); a Community Note reportedly calls it 100% AI-edited
True But
The photo is an authentic press image (CinemaCon, April 11, 2024). Reporting and later festival photos show Johnson did slim down for film roles in 2025, so the post’s alarmist tone exaggerates a documented but non‑medical change in his build — partly true but presented out of context.
X · Oli London post: 1,394 likes, 145 replies (X syndication). Breitbart and the Mail on Sunday report a 'massive public backlash'. Autocomplete suggests 'macron celine dion concert' (#2).
True But
The video likely shows Brigitte and Emmanuel Macron attending Céline Dion's Paris concert and Brigitte singing and dancing — that is confirmed by multiple press reports. Large-scale unrest and violent protests across France were widely reported on Oct 17–18, 2026; the post's framing that the couple were 'dancing while France burns' compresses timing and is therefore partly misleading though based on true elements.
X · 9,820 likes, 139 replies within ~6h (syndication, checked 2026-10-18); Twitchy pickup
Can't Verify
The image is an authentic screenshot of an Air Mail column by Larry David dated October 17, 2026 in which he says he enrolled in the Democratic Socialists of America; the column appears to be a satirical/humor piece. The claim that he published the piece is confirmed by Air Mail, but independent confirmation of formal DSA membership beyond his own published claim is not available in the sources located.
X · Red Eagle Updates post: 23.5K likes, 2.7K replies (syndication, 2026-10-13). Trump shared a screenshot on Truth Social 12 Oct 11:24Z (13-15K likes per Forbes/HuffPost). Picked up by CNN, WaPo, Newsweek, Forbes, HuffPost, TheWrap, Mediaite, Mirror US and CTV. · resurfaced
False
The image attributes a praise-and-endorsement quote to Denzel Washington that he did not say. The quote is fabricated; the actor's representative denied it and reputable fact-checkers and news outlets have debunked the attribution.
X · X post: 2.3K likes, 114 replies (syndication, 2026-10-13). Susan Dell is a meme after her 7 Oct Oval Office appearance (LADbible 13 Oct: Michael Dell hits back at trolls); Lead Stories fact check 12 Oct.
False
The clip/image circulating on X is AI-generated and the quoted messages are fabricated; neither the official South Park account nor Susan Dell posted the messages shown, so the post's claim is false.
X · Feud covered by Mediaite, Daily Beast (two pieces), Fox News; Libs of TikTok and Greg Gutfeld amplified the store's 'not for sale' statement; Clarkson replied with a photo of a price tag.
True
The screenshot accurately reflects a real, recent social-media dispute: Art of Play posted on Instagram on Oct 11, 2026 saying Kelly Clarkson had inquired about 'Molly' and that Molly is permanently attached to the wall and not for sale; Clarkson's counterclaim that staff told her the item cost $15,000 is her stated account and is reported, but the store disputes that interpretation.
X · 6.6K likes (X syndication, 12 Oct); Musk's origin post 13.9K likes; Ynet, Raw Story, Primetimer coverage 11 Oct; Musk says it is not his address
Misleading
A publicly shared LEGO order-confirmation screenshot showing 'Elon Musk' and address fields was posted on X (reported Oct 11, 2026). The image is likely authentic and does show the details, but Musk says the address is not his home, so calling it his 'home address' is misleading.
X · 8,907 likes and 700 replies on the X post
False
The viral video is an AI-generated deepfake; the caption claiming the Princess of Spain wore a revealing yellow mini dress and is facing backlash is false. Fact-checkers traced the clip to manipulated footage from an earlier royal event and ran AI-detection tools that flagged it as generated/manipulated.
Facebook · India Today Fact Check 8 Oct; Messi's farewell (6 Oct, Benin 3-0) is globally trending. No engagement count available · resurfaced
True But
The video appears to be genuine footage of very large crowds in Argentina; reputable news outlets confirm Lionel Messi's farewell match took place on October 6, 2026 in Buenos Aires and report extensive crowds and fan events. The caption's core claim is correct, though the phrase "the entire country is out" is an exaggeration.
X · Spreading in English, Turkish and Italian versions (CIA, Rothschild, alien variants); Facta debunk 6 Oct
False
The clip is presented as José Mourinho saying Vinícius Jr. is being investigated for impersonation, but we found no credible reporting or official source to support that claim. The statement appears to be fabricated or misattributed; the broader 'Vinícius replaced by a double' story is a baseless conspiracy circulating on social platforms and has been covered by news outlets as unsubstantiated.
X · 981 likes, 91 replies; TheJournal.ie coverage
True
Verified. Sinn Féin's social-media graphic accurately reports that numerous public figures (including Noel Gallagher, Susan Sarandon, Johnny Marr, Paul Weller, Siobhán McSweeney and Adrian Dunbar) signed an open letter on 6 October 2026 supporting Garvaghy Road residents and calling for an independent mediator; multiple reputable news outlets reported the same signatory list.
X · Primary post 161 likes (syndication, 2026-10-06); same text spread in Arabic by multiple accounts (akhpwntb 24 likes/17 replies); Misbar fact-check 2026-10-06 rates it misleading (video is a 2024 Dubai accident airlift); MBR posted normally on X on 2026-10-05.
False
A viral video shows a helicopter landing on a Dubai highway, but independent fact-checkers report the clip is misattributed and there is no credible evidence that Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was involved in a traffic accident or airlifted; the social-media claim is false.
X · Blakeman post ~14.3K likes (syndication); NY Post post ~12.7K likes / 711 replies; covered by Fox News, NY Post, Breitbart, RedState, Joe.My.God, Hoodline
Can't Verify
The tweet's central claim that Debra Messing is backing Bruce Blakeman over Kathy Hochul is confirmed by multiple contemporary news reports and local outlets. The rest of the post contains campaign rhetoric and promises, which are political messaging rather than verifiable facts.
X · Cleese replied publicly ('I can't wait to be arrested'); The Blaze coverage; 'john cleese prevent' is top autocomplete
Can't Verify
There is corroborated reporting that a Prevent referral concerning John Cleese was submitted and published by 5Pillars (referral dated Sept 22, 2026). The post's headline correctly reports a Prevent referral over incendiary posts, but it overstates the provenance by saying a 'Muslim group' reported him — the published referral is described as submitted by 'a member of the public' and it is not clearly attributable to a named Muslim organisation.
X · Multiple outlets reporting death on Oct 2; TMZ, Pop Crave, Entertainment Tonight X posts; extensive coverage across US regional news (WAFB, KALB, KSLA, KPLC, Fox 8); 'Life After Lockup' audience engaged
Can't Verify
Entertainment outlet TMZ reports that Ken Urker, identified as Gypsy Rose Blanchard's fiancé, was found unresponsive and has died at age 33 (published Oct 1, 2026). Multiple entertainment sites carried the story; major wire services had not yet published independent confirmation at the time of this check.
X · Black-and-white '1954-2026' image post by @kayoflagos001 reportedly passed 8M views (Free Press Journal) and carries a Community Note. Debunks from Gulf News, Times Now, IBTimes SG, Tribune PK and others on 9/29-30.
False
The image is a manipulated obituary-style graphic (real photo + overlaid dates) circulating as proof that Jackie Chan died in 2026; this is false. Multiple reputable outlets and fact-checkers (published Sep 29, 2026) report the posts are a hoax and there is no credible confirmation of his death.