Conspiracy theories about celebrities and musicians, especially those we love, can be quite intriguing. Whether it’s the old myth about Paul McCartney being dead or the newer idea that Jay-Z is involved with the Illuminati, these theories add some mystery and fun to our lives, even during tough times.
The NFL playoffs were rigged because of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce
Taylor Swift, known for her music and sometimes controversial moments, caused quite a stir when she was romantically linked to Travis Kelce, a player for the Kansas City Chiefs football team. Some people started spreading rumors that the NFL playoffs were fixed so Taylor would be at the Super Bowl, where the Chiefs were playing against the San Francisco 49ers. They thought this would boost viewership and help the Chiefs win. However, the NFL commissioner dismissed these claims, saying they were nonsense. But the conspiracy theory still made its rounds on social media.
Jay-Z is in the Illuminati.
Do you think Jay-Z is part of the Illuminati? Some people do, and they think it might make you think twice before playing “Empire State of Mind” in New York City. Conspiracy theorists say Jay-Z belongs to a secret group that controls world events, called the Illuminati. They point to his hand gesture, which looks like a diamond, as evidence. They also think he has mind control and time travel abilities. In 2013, a photo from 1939 surfaced showing a man who looks like Jay-Z, adding fuel to the theory. Other singers like Beyoncé, Rihanna, Kesha, David Bowie, and Lana Del Rey are also thought to be part of the Illuminati by some people.
Michael Jackson’s death was planned to cover up political protests
Some people think Michael Jackson’s death was not an accident. They believe it was planned by the Iranian government to distract from political protests in Iran in June 2009. After Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won the presidential election again, many Iranians protested, but the government tried to stop news coverage. The protesters used social media to spread the word, but most U.S. news channels were focused on Michael Jackson’s death.
The CIA murdered John Lennon
Conspiracy theorists believe that Mark David Chapman didn’t act alone in killing John Lennon. They think the CIA was behind it all. The theory suggests that the CIA used Chapman to carry out the assassination because Lennon’s political views were against America and capitalism, and he promoted peace.
Kris Kristofferson is a lizard
In 1999, British writer and sports broadcaster David Icke wrote a book called The Biggest Secret. He believes that many world leaders and celebrities are not humans but are actually reptilian aliens from a group called the Babylonian Brotherhood. They come from the Draco constellation and can change their appearance to look like humans. According to Icke, they control everything that happens to humanity.
Many people on the internet found Icke’s theory fascinating. Some believe that Kris Kristofferson is one of these shapeshifters. Others thought that members of the Babylonian Brotherhood include Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, the late Queen Elizabeth II, and Pope Francis.
Andrew W.K. is not the real Andrew W.K
It’s believed that the Andrew W.K. we see now is not the same person as the one on the 2001 album “I Get Wet.” Some think he grew a beard to hide his real identity, which might be someone called Steev Mike. This person is thought to be a corporate creation behind the Andrew W.K. persona and is listed as an executive producer on the album. According to the conspiracy theory, different people have played the role of Andrew W.K. before, and there may be others in the future.
Beyoncé was never pregnant
Here’s a Beyoncé conspiracy theory that might upset some fans. Some people on the internet believe that Beyoncé didn’t want to gain weight during her pregnancy, so she hired someone else to carry her daughter, Blue Ivy Carter.
Beyoncé first announced her pregnancy by showing off her baby bump at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2011. However, a week before that performance, she did another concert where some people say they didn’t see any signs of her being pregnant. The theory got stronger after an interview where her belly seemed to fold as she sat down, leading to rumors that she was wearing a fake pregnancy belly. Beyoncé has denied using a surrogate, and footage from the On the Run tour, showing her with a naked baby bump, seems to disprove the conspiracy theory.
Gangster rap was invented to fill prisons
Some people believe that in 1991, top executives from record labels and rich people met secretly to create gangster rap and promote it to the public. They allegedly wanted to use this music to encourage drug sales and street violence, which would lead to more people being put in privately-owned prisons. An anonymous letter sent to HipHopIsRead.com explained how someone from inside the music industry was involved in this conspiracy theory.
The Wizard of Oz and Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon share an uncanny link
Many people believe that Pink Floyd’s album “Dark Side of the Moon” syncs up perfectly with the movie “The Wizard of Oz.” They say if you start playing the album at a certain point in the movie, the music lines up with what’s happening on screen. Some even think the movie was made to match the album. But the movie is about 112 minutes long, while the album is only about 43 minutes long. So, you’d have to play the album a few times to match the whole movie.
But Pink Floyd’s audio engineer, Alan Parsons, says this idea is nonsense. He tried it and found that the timing doesn’t really match up. Plus, he says any album played alongside a movie with the sound off might seem to match up at times, but it’s just a coincidence.
Elvis is alive
Elvis Presley, the famous singer, is at the center of many conspiracy theories. Some people believe he’s still alive and living secretly in his home, Graceland, in Memphis, Tennessee. They say he faked his death in 1977 because he was tired of being famous. They point to things like his middle name being misspelled on his gravestone, sightings of him after his supposed death, and his life insurance not being cashed. But these are just rumors and guesses with no real evidence.
Paul McCartney is dead
Since 1967, there’s been a rumor that Paul McCartney died in a car crash and was replaced by someone who looks like him. People who believe this point to two Beatles albums as “proof” of McCartney’s death. They say Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is like his funeral record: The cover shows a hand above McCartney’s head, like a blessing, and inside, he’s facing away from the viewer while the others face forward. In Abbey Road, they say McCartney being barefoot symbolizes him being out of step with the others, like he’s dead.
These rumors got so big that McCartney had to explain himself to LIFE magazine in 1969. He said, “Maybe the rumor started because I haven’t been in the press much lately. I’ve done enough press for a lifetime, and I don’t have much to say these days. I’m happy to be with my family, and I’ll work when I want to. I was always on for 10 years and never off. Now I’m taking a break whenever I can. I’d rather be a bit less famous these days.”
Avril Lavigne died and was replaced by a look-alike
Let’s go back to 2003, a time when low-rise jeans and popped shirt collars were all the rage, and a Canadian pop-punk teen ruled the charts.
If you were a fan of Avril Lavigne’s debut album, Let Go, you might have heard a wild theory. Some people believed that Lavigne died in 2003 and was replaced by a look-alike named Melissa Vandella to keep fans from getting upset. Vandella supposedly posed as Lavigne for the cameras even before the singer’s supposed death.
Fans who believe in this theory think they’ve found hidden messages in Lavigne’s later albums that support it. But Lavigne herself has said it’s just a silly internet rumor, and she’s surprised anyone believed it.
