21 Famous Viral Photos That People Think Are Real, But Are Actually Fake

Daniel Bonfiglio Published 04/21/2024 in wow

Even before the age of A.I., people were willing to put the work in on Photoshop to make something go viral. Many of them succeeded in creating images that took the internet by storm, only for the truth to come out later. Here are 21 famous viral photos that everybody thought were real, but turned out to be fake.

One of the most widely shared photos in this gallery was that of a cheerleader having an unfortunate accident while being thrown in the air during a routine. That pic made its way around early Facebook, probably much to the chagrin of the poor girl. The thing is, her routine was actually accident-free, and it was all just a well-executed Photoshop joke. For the sake of the people beneath her, thank goodness.

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1.
This infamous photo of a cheerleader’s accident is completely fake.
2.
Paris Hilton did not actually wear a “Stop Being Poor” shirt.
3.
The College of Architecture and Planning didn’t actually mess up their sign.
4.
The famous giraffe with dwarfism was really photoshopped.
5.
This supposed BTS photo of the MGM intro was really taken from a Lion ironically getting a CAT scan.
6.
The “first dab in history” was really a behind the scenes photo from the 2017 movie “Dunkirk.”
7.
Astronaut Chris Hadfield was not smoking weed in space.
8.
This viral “rice wave” came pre-waved.
9.
Elizabeth Taylor did not take a photo with Marilyn Monroe.
10.
This woman was really only lifting one leg.
11.
12.
This archaeologist did NOT find a giant skeleton.
13.
This photo of mercury was allegedly the closest ever taken. Not only have there been closer photos, but the colors are added in to highlight topography. At least the photo itself is legitimate.
14.
Whoever thought this was real needs a physics lesson.
15.
This deforestation warning poster was really a splice of the same photo. That being said, the issue still remains, and the photo still does a good job of showing it.
16.
This cool looking house in Bucharest, Romania is really AI generated.
17.
This viral cat only really had some of his grumpy old man features.
18.
I guess this “impossible castle” really is impossible.
19.
This often shared unique perspective photo of a moon and a skyscraper isn’t quite as advertised.
20.
Everyone who thought this “Cow on a BMW” photo looked impossible was right.
21.
This viral photo of a frozen canal in Venice is actually a splice of two different photos.

1.
This infamous photo of a cheerleader’s accident is completely fake.
2.
Paris Hilton did not actually wear a “Stop Being Poor” shirt.
3.
The College of Architecture and Planning didn’t actually mess up their sign.
4.
The famous giraffe with dwarfism was really photoshopped.
5.
This supposed BTS photo of the MGM intro was really taken from a Lion ironically getting a CAT scan.
6.
The “first dab in history” was really a behind the scenes photo from the 2017 movie “Dunkirk.”
7.
Astronaut Chris Hadfield was not smoking weed in space.
8.
This viral “rice wave” came pre-waved.
9.
Elizabeth Taylor did not take a photo with Marilyn Monroe.
10.
This woman was really only lifting one leg.
11.
12.
This archaeologist did NOT find a giant skeleton.
13.
This photo of mercury was allegedly the closest ever taken. Not only have there been closer photos, but the colors are added in to highlight topography. At least the photo itself is legitimate.
14.
Whoever thought this was real needs a physics lesson.
15.
This deforestation warning poster was really a splice of the same photo. That being said, the issue still remains, and the photo still does a good job of showing it.
16.
This cool looking house in Bucharest, Romania is really AI generated.
17.
This viral cat only really had some of his grumpy old man features.
18.
I guess this “impossible castle” really is impossible.
19.
This often shared unique perspective photo of a moon and a skyscraper isn’t quite as advertised.
20.
Everyone who thought this “Cow on a BMW” photo looked impossible was right.
21.
This viral photo of a frozen canal in Venice is actually a splice of two different photos.