Sometimes, fame and celebrity can be very double-edged swords. For example, when you’re famous, people all around the world will constantly talk about you. That may sound like a good thing, but it won’t take long before the weirdest fans create the strangest rumors.
Many of these rumors have confounded multiple generations over the years, but what’s the truth? Keep reading to learn more about the craziest celebrity myths as well as the truth behind them!
Paul is dead
Perhaps the longest-running celebrity myth kicked off back in 1967, and it centered on Paul McCartney. That was the year that a strange rumor went around saying that McCartney had died in a car accident, and this rumor gained steam once a radio DJ spoke to a caller about a rumor that playing a certain Beatles song backward means you can hear secret lyrics discussing how “Paul is dead.”
The center of this theory is the idea that McCartney died and was replaced so the band could keep going. However, everyone who knew McCartney as a child vouches that he is the same man today, so we can chalk this theory up to fans making their own fun back in the day.
Elvis lives
The best conspiracy theories usually have a germ of truth to them. For example, people have been seeing sightings of Elvis Presley from nearly the moment that he died. And some of those who believe Elvis faked his death do so because his family requested a second autopsy to verify the cause of death to their satisfaction.
In 2027, that autopsy report will become a matter of public record. But the sobering truth is that the family just wanted a second autopsy because of the confusing nature of Elvis’ death. And as much as we’d like to believe the craziest rumors (for example, that Elvis knew too much about the Mafia and went into witness protection), this singer has been dead for a good, long time.
Walt Disney’s frozen body
Walt Disney was easily one of the most creative people to ever walk the planet. And his death meant we would never again see his amazing ideas brought to life. Perhaps this is why so many people believe that Disney had his body cryogenically frozen so that he could be revived later in life.
This persistent rumor has been around since 1969, but we can confidently say there is no truth to it. Not only did Disney never have his body cryogenically frozen, but he had his body cremated after his death. On the most literal level, there is nothing left of the man that could ever be revived.
Mr. Rogers, a lethal sniper?
Many wild celebrity myths focus on unexpected contrasts. For example, Mr. Rogers is the ultimate embodiment of wholesome, emotional support. And it didn’t take long for fans to create a rumor that, before becoming a TV host, Rogers was a lethal military sniper.
As always, the truth is much more mundane. While Mr. Rogers did try to join the military, he was declared unfit for service back in 1950. Hilariously enough, though, the Navy SEALS website still has a page up debunking the rumor that Mr. Rogers was part of the service.
Stevie Wonder faking his blindness?
At times, the craziest celebrity rumors come from unexpected moments. For example, when blind singer Stevie Wonder was on stage during a performance one time, he caught a microphone that had started falling towards him. This led to a rumor that Wonder has been faking his blindness all along!
It’s a wild theory, but there is literally nothing to it except for that mic-catching moment. If Wonder were really faking anything, we’d have more evidence considering that he has been in the public eye for so many decades. Plus, it’s not uncommon for the other senses to develop more to compensate for a lack of vision, so this was likely no more than a combination of good ears and good reflexes.
Halle Berry’s extra toes
In many ways, our favorite crazy celebrity myths are ones that have no basis in reality. And there is no better example of this than the ongoing rumor that Halle Berry has an extra toe on each foot.
Nobody knows where this rumor came from, but it is very easy to debunk. For example, Halle Berry has made many appearances where you can count her toes. And no, she does not actually have any extra digits.
Jennifer Lopez and butt insurance
When Jennifer Lopez first became famous, fans were enamored of her curvy body. And in seemingly no time, a rumor began circulating that she had her butt insured because it was such an important asset.
Years later, she was interviewed by James Corden, and she denied ever having any parts of her body insured. And like us, Lopez wondered how one would go about insuring a part of their anatomy and what kinds of events (such as loss of theft) insurance is supposed to help prevent.