If there is one thing social media knows how to do, it is take a narrative and run to the moon and back with it. But today, the “moon” is further away than ever. With the rapid evolution of AI, it has become alarmingly simple for bad actors to manufacture false images and audio that breathe life into dangerous misinformation.
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As we head into these critical 2026 elections, the stakes have shifted. A deepfake isn’t just a “fake photo” anymore; it is a tool designed to erode public trust, manipulate your emotions, and influence your vote before you even realize you’re being deceived. Now more than ever, blind belief is a liability.
To help you sharpen your digital defenses and separate fact from fiction, we are going to debunk some viral “news” stories of lately that were entirely fabricated by AI. Let’s look at the evidence.
Usher and Justin Bieber’s Oscar Fight
After TMZ broke news that Usher and Justin Bieber had a tense moment at Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s Oscars after-party, pictures and videos of the argument began circulating on X. However, the pictures and videos were fake, with a fake TMZ watermark plastered on top.
Online, folks started picking whether they were team Usher or Bieber after seeing the fight footage.
“Usher looks a lil nervous…. good. team Justin all day long,” wrote one user.
“What did Usher do to Bieber?” asked another.
Although the pictures and videos looked believable, one easy way to verify if they are real is to double-check the source, TMZ. Since the publication posted no pictures on its website or social media, it is clear that the images are fake.
Druski’s White Granddaddy
Now, this one is a little bit trickier since Druski himself posted the image. However, after receiving backlash for his “Conservative White Women” skit, Druski posted a picture of himself as a child with a white man. The internet then immediately created the narrative with videos of Druski claiming the man was his grandfather, even though Druski did not say that.
“Druski’s granddaddy being White is like the ultimate uno reverse,” said TikToker dr3lasap3. “Like, what do you say now?”
However, the comedian’s team soon clarified that the man in the image was Druski’s childhood next-door neighbor, not his White granddaddy. However, the simple solution for this false rumor would be to check whether Druski said it himself; if he did not, it probably isn’t true.
Tyler Perry and Marlo Hampton
Another AI-generated pic that recently went viral is one of Tyler Perry kissing Real Housewives of Atlanta star Marlo Hampton, “hard-launching” their supposed relationship. However, Loren Lorosa went on X to clear up the rumors and confirm that the two are not dating
While the two were seen together at the Sea Salt SoulFull Sunday Gospel Brunch, they definitely were not kissing at the event. Again, while this image looks realistic, an easy way to debunk this rumor would be to check verified news sources that posted the original pictures of the event. Also, many profiles that post AI-generated content note they are parody accounts in their bios, so it is always a good idea to check the account’s bio too.
Zendaya and Tom Holland’s Wedding Pics
Listen, I know we are all excited for Zendaya and Tom Holland to finally publicly announce that they are officially married and maybe, if we are lucky (fingers crossed), show us some wedding photos, but we cannot get ahead of ourselves.
At the start of March, an AI-generated picture of Zendaya and Tom Holland’s wedding got over 10 million likes on Instagram, but again, the images were false, and Zendaya said this herself during a Jimmy Kimmel interview. How to spot that these images are AI? Take look at Zendaya’s earrings, which change from dangling pearls to sparkling studs in the two pictures. But also… do we really think stylish icons Zendaya and Law Roach would let Holland walk down the aisle in a Spider-Man mask? Most likely not.
Morgan Freeman’s Niece
In 2024, content creator Justine went viral for her “day in the life” videos, which featured an AI-generated voiceover using the voice of Morgan Freeman, whom she claimed was her uncle. However, her jig was quickly up when publications like the Daily Mail revealed that Freeman was not actually her uncle.
“I was having a little bit of fun. I just thought it’d be funny,” the TikToker said in response to the article. “I thought it was very obvious that it was a joke. If anyone from his team is watching, I’m so sorry. I really just thought it was funny.”
Harriet Tubman Didn’t Exist
In another popular false narrative that caught fire on social media, folks online spread the word that Harriet Tubman was not a real person. Of course, people online were heated over the erasure of an important historical figure like Harriet Tubman, but this could easily be debunked by picking up a history book or even watching a history show.
President Barack Obama Part Time DJ
Near the end of 2025, an image of President Barack Obama DJing in Arizona went viral. However, this was yet another hoax by photographer Alexander Peet. He took images of DJ Dillon Francis at the Goldrush Music Festival and generated Obama’s face over them, according to FOX 32.
One way to debunk this is to notice that Obama’s T-shirt changes colors throughout the different images Peet shared. Peet even hinted at the truth in his Instagram caption, writing, “Crazy how much Obama looks like @dillonfrancis at Goldrush here.”
Will Smith Eating Spaghetti
Be aware that if you see any videos of Will Smith eating spaghetti, they are most likely AI-generated. Since 2023, it has been a running gag online to use AI-generated clips of Will Smith eating a bowl of spaghetti to test how much better AI has gotten over the years.
Now that you are in the know, do not run off with the rumor that Will Smith is constantly eating big bowls of bolognese.
Malcolm X Pro Wrestler
Some are definitely much easier to debunk than others, like Malcolm X being a WWE wrestler. This is easily proven by the Sora watermark being attached to the video and the fact that WWE, as we know it, didn’t start until the 1980s, 20 years after Malcolm X had already passed away.
Tyler, The Creator ‘Don’t Tap The Glass’
Last year, Tyler, the Creator fans were waiting with bated breath for the release of his ninth studio album, “Don’t Tap the Glass.” While they were waiting, folks online were releasing AI versions of what his album could sound like, and they were all bad. Falling for the AI music, fans online were disappointed with the creative direction Tyler had supposedly taken with his new album.
One way fans could have avoided falling for the fake music is to check verified streaming services like Apple Music or Spotify, which quickly revealed that the tracks being teased on TikTok were not the official versions. Additionally, following Tyler’s official social media would have shown that the real album release date did not align with the fake drops.
Tyler, The Creator Mexican Restaurant
On the topic of Tyler, the Creator, the artist recently had to call out the Mexican restaurant Cafe Sinonimo for posting AI-generated pics of him at its establishment.
In a comment pinned to the post, Tyler, the Creator called out the page for tricking its customers into thinking he had been there. “FAKE YOU WEIRDO,” he wrote.
Oprah Winfrey Weight Loss Gummies
Early last year, scammers made money off folks falling for AI ads for weight loss gummies with endorsements from Oprah Winfrey; however, Winfrey did not endorse the products. According to ABC 10 News, attorneys general in Arizona and California were part of a coalition that urged Meta to take down the misleading weight loss ads from Instagram and Facebook after multiple users fell for them.
One way to debunk these ads is to look at the quality of the pictures; many have an airbrushed quality, making them look almost cartoonish. At the same time, reading the fine print for the ads and any website that looks sketchy can save you from a lot of headaches in the long run.
Drake Goes K-Pop
Going back to music, in 2023, it was a trend on TikTok for folks to make AI-generated covers by famous artists. One song that went viral was a Drake and Playboi Carti cover of the K-pop song “Cupid” by Fifty Fifty.
Again, like Tyler, the Creator fans, Drake fans would have benefited from checking the Apple Music and Spotify catalogs, and they would have realized that this cover was fake. We all know Drake likes to experiment with his sound, but he has not taken over the K-pop world, just yet.
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