On Tuesday, March 26, a frightening incident shook Baltimore, Maryland, as the Francis Scott Key Bridge partially collapsed following a collision with a cargo vessel named Dali. The cargo ship, bound for Singapore, lost power just moments before the collision, leading to the devastating accident.
The aftermath of the collision saw an eruption of conspiracy theories on social media platforms, particularly regarding a potential prediction of the event by the popular animated show, The Simpsons. However, these claims have been debunked, with evidence pointing towards baseless speculation.
https://twitter.com/SackedByBosa_/status/1772649657924976693?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1772649657924976693%7Ctwgr%5E740eb0a1744939c1d253c3cb36cd26c478c61aba%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hindustantimes.com%2Fworld-news%2Fus-news%2Fdid-the-simpsons-predict-baltimore-bridge-collapse-conspiracy-theory-debunked-101711623323391.html
One circulating piece of supposed evidence was an AI-generated video depicting a news reporter narrating the Baltimore incident, suggesting a connection to The Simpsons. Despite its apparent realism, users quickly identified it as fake, highlighting the dangers of misinformation spreading on social media.
Similarly, an AI-generated photo emerged, purportedly showing characters from The Simpsons witnessing the collision between the cargo ship Dali and the Francis Scott Key Bridge. While many were initially convinced of its authenticity, further investigation revealed it to be a fabricated image, likely generated by artificial intelligence.
Simpsons was right again pic.twitter.com/K8GVeIbOwi
— Out of Context Human Race (@NoContextHumans) March 28, 2024
In response to growing skepticism, platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) took measures to provide context for misleading content. A disclaimer was added to the photo, clarifying that it did not originate from any official Simpsons episode or video, but rather appeared in a TikTok video and was likely AI-generated.
Additionally, a TikTok video surfaced featuring a scene from an alleged episode of The Simpsons, Season 35, Episode 8, drawing parallels between the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse and Scotland’s Forth Bridge. However, this claim was swiftly debunked, as there is no connection between the episode and the real-life Baltimore accident.
As authorities continue to investigate the cause of the bridge collapse and assess the extent of the damage, it is imperative for the public to exercise caution and critical thinking when encountering information on social media. Misinformation and conspiracy theories not only spread fear and confusion but also detract from the genuine efforts to understand and address such tragic events.
Comments