There are some pieces of information that we don’t question because it’s just an accepted truth. It feels as if everyone knows certain facts and there’s no need to look them up or verify them because you trust the knowledge of society as a whole.
But, what if some of those pieces of information were wrong? Now, it’s not that you are being purposefully misled. Instead, we can all fall victim to something called the Mandela Effect. But, what exactly is the Mandela Effect, and what are some ‘facts’ you will likely believe that are not actually facts at all? Read on to have your mind blown.
The Mandela Effect refers to something which is so widely misremembered that the incorrect version becomes widely accepted as fact. The naming of the phenomenon refers to the fact that a lot of people think that famous South African anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela died while he was in prison in the 1980s, but in fact he died in 2013 - over two decades after his release.
Here are some surprising examples of the Mandela Effect. See how many of them you are aware of. Click through our gallery to see all of them.
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5. Snow White and the magic mirror
When the evil Queen is looking in the mirror and asking who is the fairest of them all, she awakens the spirit within the mirror using a certain phrase. Most of us think of this as being “mirror, mirror, on the wall” but what she actually says is “magic mirror on the wall”. | Getty Images
6. Danny Zuko’s car
Grease is one of the most iconic films of all time, and we all love to sing along to the various hit songs. One of the best songs comes when Danny and the t-birds are refurbishing the car ready for the drag rice, but what’s that car called? Many people would say Grease Lightning, but it’s actually Greased Lightning. Every letter makes a difference. . . | Getty Images
7. The Laughing Cow logo
Some people think of the red laughing cow from the brand of the same name as having a nose ring, but she doesn’t have a nose ring at all. | thinglass - stock.adobe.com
8. Mickey’s Mouse’s outfit
When people think of the iconic Mickey Mouse character they imagine the playful mouse wearing suspenders, but in fact he actually wears a pair of red shorts. | murdocksimages - stock.adobe.com