Is a viral clip purporting to show actor Robert De Niro walking in massive platform shoes real? No, that's not true: The clip demonstrated glitches typical of AI production and had an AI label. Four online detectors confirmed that it was not authentic footage. The claim appeared in a post (archived here) on X by @GrrrGraphics on June 15, 2026.…
Does an authentic video show a man tearing down a Trump banner at the Department of Justice? No, that's not true: The account that originally posted the video described the footage as "AI daydreaming." There are obvious signs of AI in the video plus an online detection tool rated it likely to be an AI-generated video. There are no credible…
Was Iran soccer player Mohammed Mohebi deported from the U.S. following the June 15, 2026, FIFA World Cup game against New Zealand? No, that's not true: When contacted by Lead Stories, the Department of Homeland Security denied the online speculation. Lead Stories found no credible media reports that Mohebi had been deported. The claim appeared in a post (archived here…
Did Donald Trump and other world leaders meet with several mysterious red-uniformed entities with long blond hair and pale skin? No, that's not true: There is no reliable reporting or photographic evidence such meetings ever happened or that these uniformed entities are real. Images of meetings between world leaders and aliens appeared on X in a video montage watermarked "Planeta…
Does a real photo show an Iranian player displaying a symbolic school backpack at the World Cup? No, that's not true: An AI detection tool determined that the image was 99.8% "likely to be AI-generated." There are no credible reports that an Iranian player held up the backpack. The symbol previously has been exhibited in honor of schoolgirls killed when…
Did a viral image really show what was printed on the t-shirt worn by Sean Strickland as he was escorted from a United Fighting Championship (UPC) viewing party near the White House? No, that's not true: Other images from the scene don't show him wearing a "TRUMP IS IN THE EPSTEIN FILES" t-shirt. A spokesperson for a law enforcement agency…
Did Erika Kirk file to legally remove "Kirk" from her name? No, that's not true: The claim originated on a social media account known for posting parody content. There is no evidence that the Turning Point CEO and Charlie Kirk's widow attempted to remove "Kirk" from her name, and Lead Stories found no credible news reports that she had done…
Were 675 ballots for former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt found in a dumpster in "San Recto"? No, that's not true: San Recto is not a city or community in California. Lead Stories found no credible news reports or other reliable evidence that such an incident occurred, and the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk's office likewise found no evidence…
Does a video really show footage of the U.S. striking an Iranian fighter jet in "combat action" over the Strait of Hormuz? No, that's not true: The video was posted by a self-described parody account on social media. It also appears the footage shows Russian aircraft and was clipped from a video game. The claim was made in a post…
Did American soccer player Folarin Balogun unveil an image of late conservative commentator Charlie Kirk under his t-shirt during the USA-Paraguay World Cup match on June 12, 2026? No, that's not true: The viral image was digitally manipulated. Neither the real footage of the game nor media coverage confirm that such an episode ever took place during that match. The…
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