Fame and internet scrutiny: The craziest celebrity rumours that shocked the public
As we navigate the world of online drama, here are some of the most outlandish rumours that renowned figures have had to face.
The internet is a breeding ground for rumours and fabricated stories about people who have already been in the spotlight, such as celebrities, or those who gained fame through the internet, like influencers—ironically facing scrutiny from the very platform that propelled them.
As we navigate the world of online drama, here are some of the most outlandish rumours that renowned figures have had to face.
THE AVRIL LAVIGNE REPLACEMENT CONSPIRACY
The long-standing rumour that Avril Lavigne is not the real person still persists to this day, with claims that she is impersonated by a lookalike named Melissa Vandella.
The theory began after Lavigne was allegedly reported to have died in the early 2000s, followed by the release of her second album in 2004, Under My Skin, which was said to contain a subliminal message hinting that Vandella was the true Avril Lavigne.
In 2003, a photoshoot reportedly revealed the name 'Melissa' written on Lavigne's hand. Her fans at the time also pointed out that her appearance and music style seemed to change significantly.
In response to these rumours, Lavigne has repeatedly denied the claims.
In a 2024 podcast with Alexandra Cooper, she explained that the rumour had been circulating for over a decade and that the only way to deal with it positively was to acknowledge that, at least, it could be worse.
LADY GAGA SHUTS DOWN PREGNANCY RUMOURS
In June 2024, Lady Gaga attended her sister Natali Germanotta's wedding, which led to speculation about her being pregnant.
She swiftly shut down the rumour through a TikTok video, featuring herself with the caption, "Not pregnant—just down bad crying at the gym. Register to vote at www.headcount.org."
Her post also included a positive message encouraging people to vote during the previous American presidential election between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.
The video caught the attention of Taylor Swift fans, as the phrase "down bad crying at the gym" was taken from Swift's song Down Bad from her latest album, The Tortured Poets Department.
One fan shared their excitement, saying, "The Taylor reference, I’m obsessed."
JENNIFER ANISTON ADDRESSES PREGNANCY RUMOURS AND MEDIA SCRUTINY
Famous American actress Jennifer Aniston has long been subjected to scrutiny over her fertility struggles, particularly as she chose not to have children.
She has expressed gratitude for this decision, viewing it as an opportunity to focus on her career.
However, throughout her career, the 56-year-old has been the subject of persistent pregnancy rumours, which she has described as a soap opera for people to follow when they need a distraction.
These rumours eventually took their toll on her, and she admitted that, despite her best efforts, they began to affect her.
In 2016, Aniston wrote an op-ed in which she directly addressed the issue, expressing her frustration with media speculation about her personal life.
She also pointed out that the constant focus on her reproductive choices was a form of objectifying women.
Critics often labelled her decision not to have children and focus on her career as "selfish."
The obsession with marriage and motherhood in society became glaringly obvious, and Aniston responded by stressing that women are whole and complete with or without children.
ORLANDO BLOOM STRIKES BACK AT JUSTIN BIEBER—ONCE, OR MAYBE TWICE
Eleven years ago, Justin Bieber was a pop culture obsession, particularly in Hollywood. His appearance in the 2014 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, alongside famous models like Miranda Kerr, Barbara Palvin and Cara Delevingne, made waves.
Bieber quickly formed friendships with the models, but this backfired when rumours surfaced that Kerr was flirtatious with him while she was married to Orlando Bloom.
Allegedly provoking Bloom, Bieber reportedly said that Kerr was "good," which Bloom interpreted as disrespectful towards women.
In July 2014, Bloom reportedly threw a punch at Bieber, an incident captured in a viral video.
The altercation sparked widespread media coverage, but neither party commented on the incident in detail.
KOURTNEY KARDASHIAN CLEARS UP THE RUMOUR ABOUT HER 15-YEAR-OLD SON BEING A FATHER
In March 2025, new rumours emerged claiming that Mason Disick, the 15-year-old son of Kourtney Kardashian Barker and her ex-partner Scott Disick, had fathered a child.
These rumours were spread by accounts impersonating him, following a podcast episode earlier in January in which Scott and Khloé Kardashian discussed Mason’s dating life.
Scott shared that Mason was beginning to form relationships with girls and that he was giving him advice on not "manipulating" girls by saying he loved them one day and dating someone else the next.
The conversation was said to have taken place over the phone between father and son, which Scott recounted during the podcast.
Kourtney Kardashian defended her son on Instagram on March 2, urging the public to respect Mason’s privacy.
In a story post, she specifically addressed the rumour, stating: "I rarely address rumours or conspiracies regarding myself or my family, but this is about my child, and it feels wrong to let anyone think for a second that these lies are remotely true.
"They are not. Mason does not have a child."
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