Last week, a video of a model being bitten by a lemon shark during an underwater promotional shoot went viral. Earlier today, a shark diving operator told RealClearLife that he has proof the “attack” was not only a hoax — but that the model initially asked his company, Florida Shark Diving, to help stage it.
As RCL waits for Cavailli to respond to the allegation, here are five other viral videos that have been definitively debunked—but not before they racked up millions of views online.
Man Fights Off Great White Shark in Sydney Harbor
How do we know this is fake? Look for the “teleporting shark” that savvy Internet users identified at 0:58 seconds in.
Ape with AK-47
If this ape looks real, that’s because it was crafted by experts. Rather than authentic footage, though, the viral video actually a promotion for “Rise of the Planet of the Apes.” That didn’t stop eager viewers from garnering nearly 37 million views since it was published in 2011.
Walking on Water
The creators have since admitted that this is a fake, but it’s still incredible to watch.
Worst Twerk Fail Ever
The video of a girl practicing the popular dance move went viral after an ill-timed entry from her roommate seemingly catches her leg on fire. But an “unedited” follow-up to the viral video shows late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel revealing that the stunt was actually fake.
Golden Eagle Snatching Baby
The creators of this video admitted just one day after it went viral that it was a fake — but the doctored footage is realistic enough to strike fear in the hearts of parents everywhere.
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