Conspiracy theories may seem a lot more prevalent in today's day and age, but so long as humans have been able to cast doubt, they've made up stories about the truth. The internet makes spreading misinformation much easier, though, which has given rise to some truly wild conspiracy theories specifically about celebrities.
Celebs are in the spotlight all the time, so it would seem hard for them to hide major secrets. Still, theories about them have prevailed nonetheless. Some are more believable than others, though. All of the ones about living stars actually being dead or dead stars actually being alive seem pretty unlikely, and the government/Illuminati plots seem a little outrageous.
But you can judge for yourself with these 15 celebrity conspiracy theories. Do they have merit or are they just delusional?
Paul McCartney Was Replaced
Some people believe that the Beatles' bassist, Paul McCartney, actually died in a car crash in 1966. Because that was the height of the Beatles' fame, the band just replaced him with a lookalike and kept on selling music. People pointed to supposed clues buried in songs and album covers to back up their story. And John Lennon fueled the fire when he released "How Do You Sleep?" with the lyrics, "Those freaks was right when they said you was dead."
Sinbad's 'Shazam' Movie
Ask '90s kids if they ever saw a movie called Shazam starring Sinbad as a genie, and you might get some affirmative answers. But no such movie exists, despite many people insisting they definitely saw it. Most likely they're conflating the real film Kazaam, in which Shaquille O'Neal played a genie, with the fake one. Shazam is just a combination of Shaq plus Kazaam.
Prince Charles Isn't Harry's Father
Harry's red hair has many people convinced that he's not related to Prince Charles. Some have suggested that Princess Diana's lover James Hewitt was Harry's father instead. But James has firmly shut down those rumors, saying to the Sunday Mirror, "I can understand the interest, but Harry was already walking by the time my relationship with Diana began. Harry was already a toddler."
Britney Spears Worked for George W. Bush
Some have blamed Britney's erratic 2000s behavior on the Bush administration. The conspiracy suggests that in order to cover up presidential mistakes or distract the public, Britney would have a meltdown or a major life moment and people would get distracted. For instance, her much-talked-about kiss with Madonna came when Bush was under fire for his decisions in Iraq. She also once told the public to support Bush in "every decision that he makes."
Tupac Is Alive
A majority of celebrity conspiracy theories seem built around saying that living people are actually dead and dead people are actually alive. Some people claim that rapper Tupac Shakur, who died in 1996, is still among us. He simply faked his death when he learned of the murder plot against him. Supposed "sightings" of the rapper have occurred all over the world, including most recently in New Mexico.
Avril Lavigne Is Dead
This is just the "Paul is dead" theory for a new generation. Some people have suggested that singer Avril didn't like appearing in public so she used a body double — a woman named Melissa. But then Avril unexpectedly died, and Melissa took over for her full time. Fans of the theory point to supposed differences between older and newer photos of Avril, as well as a picture where Avril allegedly has "Melissa" written on her hand.
OJ Simpson Is Khloé Kardashian's Dad
Because Khloé looks a little different than her sisters (she's much taller, for instance), some have claimed Robert Kardashian isn't her real dad. Instead, they've suggested that former Kardashian family friend OJ Simpson is Khloé's father. "I've heard that narrative since I've been a baby," Khloé recently said about the rumor. "That part doesn't hurt me now, because I've been so used to that."
Katy Perry Is JonBenét Ramsey
JonBenét Ramsey was murdered at 6 years old in 1996, and her killer was never caught. But some have suggested that she's not dead at all — she's just Katy Perry. People have pointed to an apparent similarity in how the two look as their evidence. But Perry is six years older than JonBenét, so the theory hardly stands up.
Beyoncé's in the Illuminati
The Illuminati's mere existence is a conspiracy theory itself, much less that Beyoncé is part of it. Some believe she uses her music to send secret Illuminati messages — like when she held her hands up in a triangle formation at the Super Bowl. Her husband, Jay-Z, has also been accused of being in the secret organization.
Kate Middleton Used a Surrogate
Kate Middleton looked pretty flawless during pregnancy — even constantly wearing heels no less — and her body bounced back after labor super quickly. So some have suggested that Kate may have used a surrogate to have her children and that she just sported a fake belly instead.
The same rumor surfaced when Meghan Markle gave birth to baby Archie.
Louis Tomlinson's Baby Is Fake
A select group of One Direction fans who remain convinced that Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles are in love concocted a theory that Louis' baby with Briana Jungwirth was all a ruse. No matter how many photos Briana posted of her bundle of joy, the theorists would find a way to claim the baby was fake. Briana responded on Instagram, sharing, "How would you feel as a proud new mother reading something like this? … I won't let anyone take away the happiness I have for my baby son."
Lorde Is in Her 40s
The singer first came into the spotlight as a 17-year-old, but some people have joked (or perhaps seriously suggested) that she looks and sings like someone more mature — perhaps like a 40-year-old. When asked about the theory by Vanity Fair, Lorde (real name Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor) responded with a deadpan, "Hi, I'm Ella and I'm actually 45."
Nicki Minaj Is Just Jay-Z
Apparently if you slow down a Nicki Minaj song, she sounds exactly like Jay-Z. Does that mean that Beyoncé's husband is actually behind all of Nicki's hits, he's just speeding up the vocals, and he hired a woman to pretend to be Nicki for public events? According to many people online, yes!
Taylor Swift Is in Love with Karlie Kloss
The two BFFs aren't as close anymore, which has some speculating that perhaps they were a romantic item that didn't end well. Theorists often comb Taylor's lyrics for clues, such as in the song "It's Time To Go," where she sings, "When the words of a sister come back in whispers/That prove she was not, in fact, what she seemed/Not a twin from your dreams/She's a crook who was caught."
For what it's worth, Taylor said that song is about "listening to your gut when it tells you to leave."
Jeffrey Star & Kanye West Dated
Did Kim Kardashian and Kanye West break up because Kanye cheated with beauty mogul Jeffree Star? Both do spend a lot of time in Wyoming, which was apparently all the "evidence" theorists needed for this one. When Jeffree learned about the theory, he poked fun at it on Instagram. "I'm ready for Sunday Service," the YouTuber wrote, in a reference to Kanye's weekly musical/spiritual service.
