Did a viral video of a kiss between two South Florida Bulls football players show a real-life scene? No, that's not true: The video was digitally manipulated to alter the original footage that only showed celebratory hugs. ESPN confirmed to Lead Stories that it did not air the kissing scene. The claim appeared in a post (archived here) on X.com,…
Did the NFL ban rainbow gear from the playing field after Philadelphia Eagles Coach Nick Sirianni wore a rainbow hat? No, that's not true: The claim was spread by a Vietnamese-based publisher who used AI-generated text and images in an article that went viral on social media. There are no authentic photos of Coach Sirianni wearing the hat. A quote…
Did Clark Hunt, the CEO of the Kansas City Chiefs, Ban LGBT Merchandise from Arrowhead Stadium? No, that's not true: There is no official announcement from the Chiefs on this question. The quote circulating on social media attributed to Hunt about "protecting the integrity of our fan experience," cannot be found in any public statements in writing or on camera.…
Does a viral video on social media show Gazans who are fleeing Palestine arriving in Sweden? No, that's not true: The Ruahel Charity Association soccer team shown in the video represents various cities in the West Bank, not Gaza. The video shows players and coaches on a plane as part of a multi-city tour of Europe in July and August…
Did FIFA President Gianni Infantino attack U.S. President Donald Trump over his role in the football Club World Cup Final trophy presentation, saying he "stole the glory that belongs to us"? No, that's not true: A widely-shared video contained fake audio of Infantino's voice. We found no corroboration for the claim that Infantino had lashed out at Trump. The claim…
Did Kansas City Chiefs Coach Andy Reid publicly say that he will pay for the funerals of the Texas flood victims? No, that's not true: No credible media organizations reported that. The claim followed the pattern seen in other unsubstantiated rumors about celebrities that began to circulate on the internet shortly after the natural disaster. The claim appeared in an…
Did Ohio State football coach Ryan Day donate more than $3.5 million dollars to victims of the 2025 Texas floods? No, that's not true: No credible media organization reported that, nor did Day himself. The viral claim emerged from a website that didn't disclose the editorial team behind it and warns its readers that it functions "without warranty of any…
Did the International Federation of Football (FIFA) move the World Cup 2026 from the United States because of President Trump's strict immigration policies? No, this is not true: As of June 4, 2025, FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino, have not announced any changes to the hosting arrangement for the tournament, which will be held for the first time in…
Do the Super Bowl champion Philadephia Eagles intend to take part in a customary White House visit in 2025? The Trump administration indicated to Lead Stories that no invite had been sent to the team so far, but as of this writing, the franchise had not yet made any on-the-record statement. Here's what we know so far about rumors surrounding…
Is a video in which pop star Taylor Swift announces a breakup with athlete Travis Kelce and where she says she's looking to date a basketball player real? No, that's not true: The video in which Swift appears to say, "I don't date losers, I only date winners" originated on a YouTube channel specializing in AI deepfakes. An online detection…
Lead Stories is a fact checking website that is always looking for the latest false, misleading, deceptive or inaccurate stories, videos or images going viral on the internet.
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