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50 Mandela Effect Examples That Are Seriously Mind-Bending

If you've ever had a memory of something so vivid that you became flabbergasted upon learning it never happened, you'll be happy to know there's a name for the phenomenon...and you're not alone in this seemingly alternate reality.

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statue of Nelson Mandela
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The Mandela Effect

What in the world is the Mandela Effect? In a nutshell, it’s having memories that don’t match with current reality and history. Fiona Broome, one of the people who coined the term, launched a website in 2009 to document the phenomenon, explains that the Mandela Effect is “is what happens when someone has a clear memory of something that never happened in this reality.” But why is it called the Mandela Effect? Well, that brings us to our first example of it.

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nelson mandela's death
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Nelson Mandela’s death

In her explanation of “The Mandela Effect,” Broome cites how she and a number of other acquaintances have clear memories of activist and former South African president Nelson Mandela dying in a prison years before his actual passing, complete with a televised funeral. However, in reality, Mandela passed away in 2013 from a respiratory tract infection. This raised the question: How can so many people, strangers even, have the same memory of something that didn’t happen as they remember it?

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curious george
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Curious George

What could we possibly remember incorrectly about that curious little monkey from popular children’s literature? There’s some debate about whether or not the character is illustrated with a tail. Many remember Curious George as having one in the books written by H.A. Rey. But, no, George never had a tail.

Psst! Do you ever look at everyday objects and make out faces in the shapes? Turns out it’s a phenomenon called pareidolia—and it’s a lot more common than you may think.

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the berenstain bears
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The Berenstain Bears

While we’re on the subject of children’s book characters, we’d be remiss without mentioning that sweet country bear family The Berenstain Bears. Wait, do you think we’ve hit a typo? Many report the family name spelled Berenstein, with an “ein” instead of an “ain.” But, no, they are the Berenstains. Always have been and likely always will be.

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JIF peanut butter
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Peanut butter pandemonium

Another popular Mandela Effect example has to do with a classic peanut butter brand. Jif was introduced in 1958 (after being rebranded from Big Top peanut butter). There are PB&J lovers, however, who recall its name as Jiffy. Its possibly they are mixing it up with rival Skippy, but Jif has always simply been Jif.

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monopoly game
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Rich Uncle Pennybags

Ah, the Monopoly Man (“real” name: Rich Uncle Pennybags). Ever the shrewd business tycoon, he was always dressed to the nines in his top hat and monocle. He did wear a monocle, didn’t he? Apparently, he did not. Guess Rich Uncle Pennybags had great vision after all because he was never drawn with the eyepiece. Many of us just picture him that way in our alternate memories.

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Charles A. Lindbergh Jr.
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Lindbergh Baby

In 1932 aviator Charles Lindbergh experienced the unthinkable: His 20-month-old son was kidnapped. While a host of people remember the event remaining a cold case, with the child never to be seen again, that’s not what happened. Sadly, the toddler’s body was found a little more than two months after the initial kidnapping took place. According to an autopsy report, the child had been killed by a blow to the head not long after he was abducted.

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the flintstones
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Yabba Dabba Doo

They’re the most popular Stone Age family, but with such international recognition, why is it so many people don’t know how to spell the Flintstones‘ family name? A lot of times, the first “t” in Flintstones is dropped, with the animated brood referred to as the Flinstones. Nope, their name has always had two of the letter “t.” The Flintstones aren’t alone with misspellings, these are the most misspelled words in every state.

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looney tunes
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That’s All Folks!

In other animated Mandela Effect oddities, Bugs Bunny and crew are all members of the Looney Tunes family. Yes, that’s Tunes, not Toons. This alternate memory is a little more understandable. After all, they’re cartoons, so spelling it Looney Toons would make a heck of a lot more sense, don’t you think? There actually is a logical explanation for it, though!

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mother teresa
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Mother Teresa

As per The Mandela Effect website, one of the more notable alternate memories is the canonization of Mother Teresa. It appears a large segment of the population recalls her becoming a saint back in the 1990s. This, however, isn’t the case. According to CNN, Mother Teresa was declared a saint in 2016 by Pope Francis. These are 12 Mother Teresa quotes to live by.

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darth vader
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Star Wars

In a galaxy far far away, the Mandela Effect exists. Yes, the phenomenon has even infiltrated Star Wars. While even the most die-hard of fans quote a quintessential moment in Return of the Jedi as Darth Vader saying, “Luke, I am your father,” that’s not what he said. In actuality, Vader said, “No, I am your father.”

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snow white
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Snow White

Here’s another cinematic discrepancy that we apparently all remember incorrectly: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Who could forget the way in which the Evil Queen says the phrase, “Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?” Most of us. Because that’s not what the villain says. The actual line is, “Magic mirror on the wall…” Say what? Get the download on more of the most popular fairytales of all time.

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smokey bear
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Old Smokey

This one might make you question your entire childhood. Remember the character that popped up in all of those wildfire prevention PSAs? Smokey the Bear, that’s him. Or is it? While he’s commonly referred to as Smokey the Bear, his “real” name is simply Smokey Bear, and his website confirms it.

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abe vigoda
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Abe Vigoda

There’s a good chance at least once in your life you’ve presumed a celebrity or public figure has passed, when in fact they are very much still alive. Actor Abe Vigoda might be the most Mandela Effect example of this. Vigoda, who actually died in 2016, was reported dead by a number of different media outlets for some 30 years prior.

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Green Tone Color Shade Background with Code and Name Illustration
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Chartreuse

Aaaah, chartreuse⁠—such a lovely shade of pink, isn’t it? Or do we mean green? There’s a divide about whether or not chartreuse is in the green family or a reddish-pink. We’re here to tell you that it is actually a yellow-green color and reportedly gets its name from the liqueur called Chartreuse.

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cinderella's castle vintage photo
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Cinderella’s Castle

Today, Cinderella’s Castle sits in the Magic Kingdom just beyond Main Street⁠—an iconic symbol of the theme park. Do you remember when the castle served as the main entrance to the Magic Kingdom? Lots of people do! The only problem is the castle has always been in the exact same spot and was never located near the admission turnstiles. If you love Walt Disney World, you’re going to want to read up on these insider secrets of the parks.

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Henry VIII
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Henry VIII

King Henry VIII is perhaps best known for his six (yes six!) marriages but history buffs also recall an infamous portrait of the monarch standing with a turkey leg in one hand. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a turkey leg (just look at their modern popularity as a theme park indulgence) but this alleged portrait never happened. Absolutely zero evidence today of Henry VIII holding the aforementioned turkey leg despite the widespread alternate memory alluding to it.

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challenger explosion 1986
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Challenger explosion

When the Challenger space shuttle exploded 73 seconds after liftoff, it shocked the world. But the date of the tragedy is sometimes hotly contested, with memories of it occurring in 1983, 84, or 85. It, in fact, happened on January 28, 1986. It’s possible the alternate memory exists because space shuttle Challenger had experienced successful missions previously, including its initial launch in 1983. Interested in the stars? These are the astronomy facts you never learned in school.

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United States on an old and worn toy globe
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State of confusion

This feels like a particularly odd one but there are a host of people who remember being taught, at one time, that there are 52 states in the United States, as opposed to the reality of just 50. What could this stem from? Maybe folks are confusing states with the addition of U.S. territories, like Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Either way, this one is a doozy for The Mandela Effect.

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we are the champions
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We Are the Champions

With so much renewed publicity around rock icons Queen since the release of Bohemian Rhapsody in 2018, music lovers are taking a closer look at their hit “We Are the Champions.” It became an accepted notion that lead singer Freddie Mercury passionately ends the song by singing “of the world!” But that didn’t happen in the recording, as evidenced by the lyrics. Aside from Bohemian Rhapsody, these are the movies with the best soundtracks.

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gremlins movie
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Gremlins

The 1984 cult classic was a hit with kids and adult moviegoers, but those who saw the movie remember the name of the villainous Gremlin differently. Some say his name was Stripe, while others insist he was Spike. As it turns out, the sinister Gremlin was, in fact, Stripe, though there is a licensed t-shirt available on Amazon under the name of Spike, adding to the confusion.

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fruit of the loom
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Fruit of the Loom

Underwear purveyor Fruit of the Loom is known for some pretty iconic commercials featuring actors dressed up in some ridiculous fruit costumes. But they’re also well known for their classic logo, a cornucopia of fruit. Except there is no actual cornucopia from which the fruit pours out. In reality, the image only features an array of fruits. Maybe our minds just go to the concept of harvest time and cornucopias when we see an illustration of produce, but the misconception about the Fruit of the Loom logo is rampant.

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MASH Cast
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M.A.S.H.

The television series M.A.S.H. delivered a lot of heartbreaking deaths throughout its 11 seasons. Some viewers of the show clearly recall the sad fate of Cpl. Walter “Radar” O’Reilly, played by Gary Burghoff, but in actuality, that character appeared through season eight and was very much alive during his send-off episodes. In fact, Burghoff was one of two actors to reprise his M.A.S.H. role from the original movie upon which the series was based.

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sex and the city
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Sex and the City

The hit HBO series which spawned two feature films following the exploits of four best friends living and loving in New York City is still beloved by legions of fans who watch its reruns that seem to run continuously on TV. But there’s a discrepancy in the show’s title. There are fans who swear the pilot episode of the series was titled Sex in the City. After all, lead character Carrie Bradshaw was writing about sex, love, and relationships in the Big Apple. But, nope, the title has always been Sex and the City.

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oscar mayer
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Oscar Mayer

Famous for their meat products like bacon, cold cuts, and hot dogs, Oscar Mayer has been a household name for decades. Taking that into account, it’s Mandela Effect at work that some have memories of the company’s name as Oscar Meyer with an “e.” In reality, the company has always been Oscar Mayer with an “a,” no matter how name is pronounced.

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febreze
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Febreze

In another example of a household name remembered with an alternate spelling, odor eliminator Febreze comes to mind. With a spray here and a spray there the product is intended to eliminate unpleasant odors and replace them with a fresh, breezy scent. Perhaps that’s why you’ll find plenty of people who swear it is (or at least at one time was) spelled Febreeze. However, in this reality, the stuff is Febreze. No extra “e” needed.

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c3po star wars
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C-3PO

Loveable droid C-3PO is a Star Wars legend, known for his gold figure. But if you recall C-3PO as being gold and only gold, that’s the Mandela Effect hard at work. You see, the droid actually has a silver piece on his right leg, from about the knee joint down through his foot.

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kitkat
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KitKat

We love a hyphen as much as the next person, but one does not exist in the name for chocolatey treat KitKat. In fact, there’s no space between the “Kit” and the “Kat,” either. You’ll find plenty of candy lovers who insist at one point in time a hyphen joined the two, but we regretfully inform them they are wrong.

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skechers store
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Shoe in

For a footwear brand that has been in existence since 1992, there’s still plenty of debate about how the company’s name is spelled. So which is it—Skechers or Sketchers? It’s decidedly Skechers, shoe fans. It’s an easy mistake to make. After all, if you were referring to a drawing you’d spell it sketch. But this isn’t about pencil and paper, it’s about shoes. And this classic brand is Skechers.

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tiananmen square protest 1989
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Tiananmen Square

What do you remember most from coverage of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests? Many recall one of the most horrifying pieces of video picturing a man being approached by a tank and then, subsequently, run over. Others remember the tank getting dangerously close to him but the man making a speedy escape. In fact, the still-unidentified man spoke to a crew member on the tank before being removed forcibly from the tank’s path. These are the protests that changed the world for people everywhere.

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billy graham
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Billy Graham’s Funeral

It’s interesting that so many deaths of public figures are remembered quite differently from person to person. Reverend Billy Graham is one such example. Some swear that remember watching the evangelist’s funeral on TV at least a decade ago. But, in reality, Graham passed away recently in 2018. Either way, there’s a slew of people remembering the televised funeral of another prominent public figure—the Mandela Effect at work again.

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leonardo diaprio oscar
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Oscar winner

Despite receiving critical praise for an impressive body of work in Hollywood, Leonardo DiCaprio didn’t win his first Academy Award until 2016. That year he took home the Best Actor trophy for his role in The Revenant. But many swear up and down that the actor scored an Oscar before this, which is categorically not the case. Sorry, DiCaprio fans! Had been nominated, but never went home a winner prior. Love a good awards show?

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big, tom hanks
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Big

The 1988 comedy was a huge hit for Tom Hanks. The actor portrayed Josh, a young boy who wishes he was “big” and then wakes up to find himself in the body of a full-grown adult. While just about everyone can agree the movie is all sorts of sweet and hilarious, there are conflicting reports about an alternate ending. In this version, they say “kid” Josh is seen sitting in a classroom only to notice a female classmate who turns out to be Susan, “big” Josh’s love interest. It’s insinuated that Susan returned to the fairground machine and wished she could be a kid again.

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Cruella DeVil
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101 Dalmatians

In 101 Dalmatians, a ginormous litter of doggies (101 as the title suggests) must escape the sinister plot of the film’s villain, Cruella DeVil. DeVil’s goal is to make a fur out of pups’ own beautiful coats. Ask Disney fans and some will insist Cruella’s is, or at one time was, spelled DeVille. At least in terms of Disney films, the character has always been DeVil. That along with these fast facts about Disney characters that might just surprise you.

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forrest gump
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Forrest Gump

And we have yet another cinematic head-scratcher on our hands. Forrest Gump brought a lot of attention to a delicious box of chocolates. While most movie lovers remember the quote as, “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get,” Gump actually says, “Life was like a box of chocolates.”

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Mr. Rogers
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The Mr. Rogers’ theme song

When you start messing with Mr. Rogers, it really starts to feel like we’re experiencing an upside-down world. We could swear his iconic theme song is, “It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood,” emphasis on the “the.” But the actual lyrics are, “It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood.” Frankly, we’ll probably continue to sing it incorrectly. For a little pick-me-up, read up on the good neighbor lessons we learned from Mr. Rogers.

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Neil Armstrong’s death

Astronaut Neil Armstrong, a pivotal figure in space exploration history, passed away in 2012. Yet many thought he died later than that, meaning they believed he lived longer than he actually did. The Mandela Effect website says this could possibly be attributed to a story about the one-year anniversary of his death that boasted a misleading deadline. This is one of those rare instances where a celebrity was actually believed to still be alive rather than deceased earlier.

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tom cruise risky business
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Risky Business

There are some movie scenes so iconic that they get copied over and over again. Tom Cruise’s Risky Business dance scene is one such example. In the 1983 classic, the actor dances around the house in a collared shirt, tightie whities, and socks…but wasn’t he also wearing sunglasses? He’s often remembered as donning shades during the epic scene, but in reality, there were no sunglasses present. On the topic of great movies, these are the one-liners we find ourselves saying over and over again.

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silence of the lambs
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The Silence of the Lambs

How many times have you heard the phrase, “Hello, Clarice,” spoken in a creepy voice as a reference to The Silence of the Lambs? If you’re at all interested in pop culture, probably at least a dozen. But Anthony Hopkins never once uttered those words as Hannibal Lecter in the film.

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JFK Assassination
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JFK’s assassination

The assassination of President John F. Kennedy while traveling in a Dallas motorcade shocked the nation, with many people to this day still reflecting on where they were the moment they heard the devastating news. Often people only remember there being four people in the car, including JFK and Jackie Kennedy, but in actuality, there were six passengers. The additional people in the car were Agent Bill Greer, secret service agent Roy Kellerman, Governor John Connally, and Nellie Connally. Though we know how many people were in the car that fateful day, we still don’t know the truth about these 12 unanswered questions.

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lord of the rings film still
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Lord of the Rings

JRR Tolkien created an incredible world with Lord of the Rings and fans of the books were thrilled when they were turned into films. However, Gandalf is often misquoted as saying the famous line, “Run, you fools!” In fact, he actually said, “Fly, you fools,” not “run.” That’s not the only thing you never noticed before about the book—find out 13 hidden messages in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

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the mona lisa
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Mona Lisa

There’s always been a lot of back-and-forth talk about whether or not the Mona Lisa is smiling in the famous Leonardo da Vinci painting. But there is a segment of the world’s population that actually believes her expression has changed over time. Conspiracy theory or Mandela Effect? You be the judge. These are the hidden messages in famous paintings.

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double stuf oreo package
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Tough cookie

Well here’s a cookie conundrum and, no, it’s not about whether or not the Oreo should be eaten whole or taken apart and consumed. Those with a sweet tooth recall seeing the deluxe version as being branded Oreo Double Stuffed cookies. But in reality, it’s spelled Oreo Double Stuf. That’s it, just “stuf.”

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wite out
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Wite-Out

Color us surprised! For years we thought we were using White Out correction fluid to gloss over any typewriter or pen mistakes. It turns out we were actually using Wite-Out. How a generation of people could have a different idea of the spelling of this product is truly baffling. But, hey, that’s the Mandela Effect. Unlike the Mandela Effect, these 12 crazy conspiracy theories turned out to be true.

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pikachu pokemon
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Pokemon

There are dozens of Pokemon characters, but bright and cheerful Pikachu is easily the most recognizable character from the franchise. Somehow, though, there are plenty of folks who believe Pikachu’s tail includes a black zig-zag across it. In reality, the character’s tail has always been drawn as completely yellow with no such zig-zag or stripe of which to speak.

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Partial close-up of neckline of red trench coat
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Carmen Sandiego

Fictional character Carmen Sandiego rocks a trench coat like nobody’s business as she travels about the globe. The double-breasted coat is a bold red, but there are folks who remember her wearing a yellow version at some point in time. However, there is no visual evidence of this alleged yellow piece of outerwear anywhere online.

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ed mcmahon
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Publisher’s Clearing House

Everyone has at some point hoped that the crew from Publisher’s Clearing House would show up at their door with a giant check, changing their lives forever. TV personality Ed McMahon was a spokesperson for the company for a long time, before his passing in 2009. TV viewers insist McMahon himself brought the check to these unsuspecting prize winners. In reality, McMahon never once appeared at someone’s door with the highly recognizable giant check.

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patrick swayze
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Patrick Swayze

Ultimately actor Patrick Swayze passed away in 2009 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was diagnosed 20 months before the disease took his life, but there are plenty of fans who distinctly remember Swayze beating the cancer and going into remission. If only that was the case.

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kazaam movie
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Kazaam

Didn’t you just love Shaquille O’Neal playing a genie in the movie Shazaam? If so, you’re living in an alternate universe because the former NBA player never appeared in a film by that name. The movie in question was, in fact, titled Kazaam, yet it is incorrectly remembered by, well, mostly everybody. Internationally movies can have different titles when translated into other languages and these examples are downright surprising.

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sally field oscar
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Sally Field

In an absolutely notorious acceptance speech, Sally Field is quoted as saying, “You like me, you really like me!” The line has been repeated over and over again. But the actress, who won an Oscar for Places in the Heart, actually said, “I can’t deny the fact that you like me, right now, you like me.”

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i love lucy cast
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I Love Lucy

I Love Lucy is easily one of the most popular programs since the advent of television. The dynamic between Lucy and her husband, Ricky Ricardo, was hysterical. Many think Ricky’s catchphrase is, “Lucy, you have some ‘splaining to do.” But that sentence never actually came out of his mouth. According to MeTV, he was actually quoted as saying, “Lucy, ‘splain,” or, “‘Splain that if you can.” These TV and movie quotes will bring a smile to your face.