It can be hard to deny the allure of a good pop culture - inspiredconspiracy hypothesis , peculiarly if it ’s centered around your favorite singer or band .

From classicurban legendsthat still linger aroundThe Beatles(like whether Paul McCartney is really dead ) to more modern one ( such as Jay - Z ’s alleged role in the Illuminati ) , these euphony conspiracy theories can still keep us guessing ( and chuckling ) through even the darkest doomscroll .

1. The NFL playoffs were rigged because of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.

When it comes to Taylor Swift , the state songster - turned - pop image is no alien to controversy ( see theGreat Snakegateof 2017 , among other things ) . But herhighly advertize romancewith Kansas City Chiefs squiffy remnant Travis Kelce sent conspiracy theorists into a delirium .

Things pick out a unvoiced swervetoward the bizarreas rumors emerge in front of Super Bowl LVIII that the NFL playoff were set to ensure Taylor would be in attendance at the Super Bowl , warrant Brobdingnagian viewership for the big event — which features the Chiefs squaring off against the San Francisco 49ers — and to see to it Kelce and Co. nab those championship mob . “ The musical theme that this was in a playscript and this was pre - planned — that ’s just falderol , ” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodelltoldreporters . It did n’t arrest thisTaylor Swift conspiracy theoryfrom circulating all over social media .

2. Jay-Z is in the Illuminati.

Is Jay - Z in the Illuminati ? And more significantly , would it keep you fromblasting“Empire State of Mind ” the next time you ’re in the Big Apple ? cabal theorizer believe that Jay - Z is amember of the arcanum societycalled the Illuminati that purportedly has the ability to control world affairs . The substantiation , confederacy theorizer say , is in the rapper ’s “ diamond cutter ” hand symbolic representation , which is consider to be connect to the Illuminati’sall - consider eyeand pyramid symbol .

Conspiracy theorist consider that Jay - Z also has the power of mind mastery and meter travel . In 2013 , a curator at the New York Public Library unearth a Sid Grossmanphotograph from 1939that depicts two men , one of which look very alike to the Brooklyn - carry rap superstar . Other recording artists that theorists believe to be members in the Illuminati are Beyoncé , Rihanna , Kesha , David Bowie , and Lana Del Rey .

3. Michael Jackson’s death was planned to cover up political protests.

ThisMichael Jacksonconspiracy is on the heavy side . But some people consider that the star ’s accidental drug overdose was not an accident at all , but rather the Iranian government’swell - orchestrated attemptto divert westerly media coverage of political protests in Iran in June 2009 . Iranians disputed the presidential election after Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was return . Supposedly , the Persian governing tried to block news insurance coverage , and the dissident read to social medium to get the word out , but most U.S. news outlets were overlay Michael Jackson ’s death .

4. The CIA murdered John Lennon.

harmonise to conspiracy theorist , Mark David Chapman was just a cat’s-paw in John Lennon ’s blackwash . Therealmastermind of the ex-husband - Beatle ’s death wasthe CIA.According to the possibility , the organization enrol Chapman tokill Lennonbecause the CIA was in secret survey the recording creative person for his anti - American and anti - capitalist political opinion and pacifism .

5. Kris Kristofferson is a lizard.

In 1999 , British writer and sports spreader David Icke put out a Word of God calledThe Biggest Secret , which detail his notion that a majority of the human race ’s political loss leader and celebrity are in reality members of a race of reptilian aliens called theBabylonian Brotherhood . They are from the constellation Draco and have the ability to shapeshift into human form and see all of world .

The internet , by nature , be intimate Icke ’s theory . Kris Kristofferson is reportedly one of these shapeshifters ; other members of the Babylonian Brotherhood allegedly include Barack Obama , George W. Bush , Bill Clinton , the tardy Queen Elizabeth II , and Pope Francis .

6. Andrew W.K. is not the real Andrew W.K.

Apparently , the Andrew W.K. that we get laid today isnot the sameAndrew W.K. depicted on the recordI Get Wetfrom 2001 . In fact , Andrew W.K. grow a byssus to hide his true identity , which may or may not be a soul known asSteev Mike , who is believe to be a corporate dental amalgam that created the persona Andrew W.K. and is credit as an executive producer Office of Naval Intelligence Get Wet . As the conspiracy possibility go away , there were many citizenry who played the role of Andrew W.K. in the past and there will be others in the hereafter .

7. Beyoncé was never pregnant.

Full disclosure : If you ’re part of theBeyhive , this Beyoncé conspiracy possibility might get you a morsel rile up . But according to some corners of the internet , Beyoncé did n’t need to gain free weight while she was meaning , so she hired a surrogate to carry her girl Blue Ivy Carter to full term .

The papa star announced her maternity byrubbing her baby bumpat the can end of her execution during the MTV Video Music Awards in 2011 . However , a week before her public presentation on MTV , Beyoncé do a concert and many think that she bear witness no visible signs of a pregnancy . The conspiracy hypothesis also staunch from aninterview with Beyoncésoon after the MTV VMAs when her belly seemed to fold as she began to sit down , and rumor hint that she was wearing a prosthetic pregnancy stomach . The Isaac M. Singer denied that she used a surrogate , and footage that aired during the On the Run term of enlistment that read hernaked sister bumpseems to prove conspiracy theorists wrong .

8. Gangster rap was invented to fill prisons.

According to conspiracy theorists , in 1991 , criminal record label CEOs and very wealthy “ decision makers ” cope with behind closed doors to invent and actively push gangster rap onto the American populace . The goal , allegedly , was to promote selling drugs and street wildness through euphony to fill in private owned corporate prisons . An anonymous varsity letter sent toHipHopIsRead.comdetailed a euphony diligence insider ’s part in this conspiracy hypothesis .

The idea that pinkish Floyd’sDark Side of the Moonperfectly syncs upwithThe Wizard of Ozis probably one of the best - known and democratic conspiracy hypothesis among the general public . purportedly , if you start flirt the phonograph recording at a certain dot inThe Wizard of Oz , then Pink Floyd ’s medicine will be in step with the visuals of the Hollywood classic . “ The result is stupefying , ” Charles Savagewrotein theFort Wayne Journal Gazettein 1995 . “ It ’s as if the movie were one long art - film music picture for the album . Song lyrics and titles mate the legal action and plot of ground . The medicine swell up and falls with character ’s movements . Do n’t gestate to be overwhelmed . But do expect to see enough fast conjunction to make you wonder whether the whole matter was plan . And anticipate to see many more coincidence that would be definite reaches if it were n’t for other parts lining up so well . ”

The reality isThe Wizard of Ozis roughly 112 minutes , whileDark Side of the Moonis about 43 minutes long , so you ’d have to play the book around two and a half times to get the audio to perfectly sync with the picture .

“ It ’s such a non - starter , a complete load of eyewash,”Alan Parsons , Pink Floyd ’s audio engineer , said in 2003 . “ I tried it for the first metre about two years ago . One of my fiancée ’s kids had a copy of the video , and I thought I had to see what it was all about . I was very disappointed . One of the thing any audio professional will severalize you is that the scope for the impetus between the video and the record is enormous ; it could be anything up to twenty bit by the time the criminal record ’s ruined . And anyway , if you play any disc with the auditory sensation turned down on the TV , you will find things that go . ”

Those Illuminati rumors still haven’t gone away, HOV …

10. Elvis is alive.

In term of Elvis conspiracy theories , many believe thatthe King is still aliveand well , and living today inGracelandin Memphis , Tennessee . According to cabal theorists , Elvis faked his expiry in 1977 because he was tired of being famous . There are a few “ clew ” that point to Elvis still being alert : His middle name is misspelled on his gravestone ; multiple sighting ( such as allegedly beingseen with Muhammad Aliin 1984 ) ; and his life indemnity was never cash or claimed — although some exact itnever existedin the first position . Of course , this is all myth and speculation .

11. Paul McCartney is dead.

It has been rumored since 1967 thatPaul McCartney diedin a car accident and was exchange with a look - alike . Conspiracy theoriser charge to two records from the Beatles that “ confirm ” McCartney ’s end . Sgt . Pepper ’s Lonely Hearts Club Bandis believed to be McCartney ’s burial book : The cover boast a hand above McCartney ’s head , which designate being bless and given Last Rites ; on the record ’s inside jacket , he ’s face backwards , while the relief of the ring is front the viewer . Abbey Road , conspiracy theorists say , is his funeral rise album ; it featuresMcCartney barefoot , which symbolizes Paul being out - of - step with his “ bread and butter ” bandmates .

Rumors of McCartney ’s death were so rife as far as Beatles conspiracy theories go that he had to explain his whereabouts toLIFEmagazinein 1969 . “ Perhaps the rumor started because I have n’t been much in the military press latterly , ” he tell . “ I have done enough press for a lifetime , and I do n’t have anything to say these days . I am happy to be with my crime syndicate and I will work when I process . I was swop on for 10 years and I never shift off . Now I am switch off whenever I can . I would rather be a little less famous these daytime . ”

12. Avril Lavigne died and was replaced by a look-alike.

To dig into this humdinger of a conspiracy , let ’s transport ourselves back to the halcyon days of 2003 , when the denim were scummy - advance , shirt collars were popped , and a pop - punk teen from Canada was at the top of the Billboard chart .

While you probably would n’t have earned much street cred for rocking out to Avril Lavigne ’s debut record album , rent Go , you would have been distraught if you guess she had died . That ’s the basis for the conspiracy theory that take Lavignedied in 2003and was replaced by a wait - alike named Melissa Vandella to forfend upsetting young fans . Vandella wasallegedly recruitedbeforethe “ Skater Boi ” Isaac Bashevis Singer ’s death to pose as her for the paparazzi .

Some fans claimsubliminal messagesin subsequent record album provide “ clues ” to the whodunit , though Lavigne has snuff it on recorddebunking such theory , send for them a “ dumb net rumour ” and read she felt “ flabbergasted that masses buy into it . ”

Music conspiracy theories: Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift

A version of this clause was originally issue in 2014 and has been updated for 2024 .

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