Conspiracy theories have been the beating heart of most cultures since the dawn of time. Maybe it’s because some of us are naturally suspicious. Or we all like an outlandish story to be true, we all occasionally want to believe in the impossible.
From colossal world-changing moments to famous celebrity deaths. Shocking events tend to lead to the birth of a good old fashioned conspiracy. Paired with the rise of social media, conspiracy stories today are next level. And on the back of something so horrific as a pandemic, it’s really no surprise.
Here are 4 fascinating conspiracy stories that people actually believe:
The moon landing was fake
On the 21st of July 1969, Neil Armstrong was the first man to step onto the surface of the moon. Nineteen minutes later, fellow astronaut Buzz Aldrin followed suit, and together the pair changed everything we knew about space – or did they?
A popular theory that emerged during the 1970s was, that the footage of the astronauts was actually shot at Nevada’s Area 51. Egged on by William Kaysing’s book, We Never Went to the Moon: America’s Thirty Billion Dollar Swindle. The conspiracy quickly gained traction. By the end of the 70s, over 30% of Americans believed the moon landing was faked.
However, every single argument claiming that NASA faked the landings have been discredited. It would be the most elaborate cover-up story EVER, seeing as 400,000 NASA employees would have to have been in on the secret!
The death of “the people’s princess” was no accident
Princess Diana was loved by millions. Beautiful, full of life and always for the people. The car crash that took her life in Paris in 1997 shook the world.
The circumstances of Diana’s death instantly sparked deep suspicion amongst the public, and numerous conspiracies were born – especially as she died one year after her divorce from Prince Charles. Although the theories vary, the crux of the story is this: The car crash that killed Diana was no accident.
At the time, Diana was dating Dodi Fayed, a prolific Egyptian film producer who lost his life alongside her. Supposedly, Dodi was planning to propose to Diana that night.
Dodi’s father, Mohamed al-Fayed, stated in court that the couple were killed because the monarchy couldn’t stand the idea of Diana and Prince Charles’s sons having a stepfather who was both Egyptian and Muslim. He also claimed that Diana was pregnant at the time of her death, which the coroner who examined her later revealed she was not.
Other theories include:
- Henri Paul, the limo driver, intentionally crashed the car. He was head of security at the Ritz Hotel, where the couple were staying prior to the crash. Others add that he may have been on the payroll of a national intelligence service group who wanted Diana dead
- Diana’s medical care after the crash was deliberately sabotaged. In France, emergency protocol dictates that emergency medical care must attempt to stabilise the patient at the scene before transferring them to a hospital. Whereas other countries emergency protocols dictate that the first priority is getting the casualty to the hospital. Further proof that her death was premeditated
The CIA killed JFK
As John F Kennedy rode through Dealey Plaza, in Dallas, Texas, in his presidential motorcade, the beloved leader lost his life after receiving a fatal gun wound. While the news swept the globe, JFK lost his life on Friday 22 November 1972. But what was evidently clear, JFK had been assassinated.
Lee Harvey Oswald quickly became public enemy number one and was quickly hunted down as the assassin. But the plot thickens! Two days later, while being transported to jail, Oswald was shot and killed by Texas nightclub owner Jack Ruby. As the country erupted in fear and grief, one popular theory arose: a coverup was at play.
The most popular theory that still remains to this day is that the CIA took JFK’s life in retaliation for the failed Bay of Pigs invasion to overthrow Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.
Fueled by further theories such as Bobby Kennedy and the attorney general’s initial thoughts that a rogue group of CIA agents were involved, it’s easy to see how JFK’s murder still strikes accord with modern theorists. Then there is the startling evidence that another gunman may have been involved, supported by the House of Representatives Select Committee on Assassinations that rooted the conspiracy in the public domain.
But don’t forget Bobby, JFK’s beloved brother! Others believe that the assassination was actually a mob hit to take out Bobby for cracking down on the mafia!
9/11 was an inside job
Anyone who remembers the devastating scenes of 11 September 2001 will know the strange panic, loss and surreal detachment that most of us felt that day. Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives. Thousands were injured. And over 2,000 first responders eventually lost their lives due to working so closely to Ground Zero.
The series of coordinated terror attacks involved two planes hitting the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers. At the time, the tallest buildings in the world. Not long after, a third plane struck the Pentagon in Washington DC, and a fourth crashed into a field on the outskirts of Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after the passengers on board United 93 foiled the terrorist’s plans.
9/11 became the worst moment in recent American history.
After all the endless wars that followed the attacks and the sheer loss of life on the day itself, the event has become a playground for conspiracy theorists. Some of the most prevalent theories include:
- President George W Bush’s adminstation let the attacks happen so that they could go to war with Afghanistan and Iraq
- The Pentagon was actually hit by a missile (erm, no!)
- The Twin Towers collapsed the way they did due to a controlled demolition
From Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green (R-GA) to radio host Alex Jones stirring the pot, many of these ideas have gained ground in popular public opinion.
True or not, conspiracy theories make fascinating stories! If you want to work a crime scene, unfoil government conspiracies or take a crack at being a spy, challenge yourself to one of our immersive Escape Rooms!