11 Times The "Mandela Effect" Will Make You Question Everything You've Ever Known

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11 Times The "Mandela Effect" Will Make You Question Everything You've Ever Known

Have you ever had a vivid memory of something, but later realized that it never really happened? If you answered yes, then you most likely experienced the "Mandela Effect".

The term was coined by people on the internet to describe a phenomenon where a large number of unrelated people share the same false memories. The theory got its name after many people claimed that they remembered Nelson Mandela dying while in prison in the 1980s and his funeral was aired on TV. As we all already know, this isn't true since Mandela actually died on December 5, 2013.

The collective misremembering makes it seem like there's been a glitch in the matrix and forces people to question their minds. Here are 11 instances of the Mandela Effect that'll make you question everything you've ever known.

1. Fruit of the Loom

Shared

Many people believe that the original Fruit of the Loom logo included a cornucopia, a detail that was removed in the later years. If you're one of them then the Mandela effect has gotten to you too. The undergarment brand's logo never had that detail.

2. The Berenstain Bears

This is probably the one that gets people the most. The popular illustrated children's book is actually "The Berenstain Bears," not "Berenstein," like we all remember. Some say this proves that a parallel universe exists, but it really is just another case of our mind playing tricks on us.

3. The Silence of The Lambs

Orion Pictures

If you're a movie buff then chances are you've seen The Silence of The Lambs starring Anthony Hopkins, but some of the film's biggest fans often misquote one of the most popular lines.

When Clarice Starling first meets Hannibal Lecter, he never said "Hello, Clarice." He greeted her with a simple "Good morning," which many of us are finding hard to wrap our heads around.  

4. Oscar Mayer

Oscar Mayer/Buzzfeed

"My bologna has a first name, it's O-S-C-A-R / My bologna has a second name, it's M-A-Y-E-R!" Do you remember this jingle from the lunch meat and hot dog brand? A lot of people insist that the brand is spelled as Oscar Meyer, with an "e" but the reality is that "Mayer" was always spelled with an "a."

5. The Thinker Pose

Musee Rodin

We're all familiar with Auguste Rodin's famous bronze sculpture, The Thinker. The statue depicts a man who appears to be in deep contemplation with his hand resting on his chin, but apparently this isn't the pose people remembered. The theory claims that at one point The Thinker had is forehead resting on his fisted right hand, not on his chin.

Click on the next page for more cases of the Mandela Effect including some very famous movie lines.

6. Shazaam

Black Kudos

Do you recognize this guy? He was a really popular actor in the 90s, who many believe starred in a genie-themed movie called "Shazaam." These people insist that they're not confusing the movie with Kazaam, a movie featuring Shaq as a genie. The truth is Shazaam never existed, it's just a name our minds made up.  

7. JFK's Assassination

If you thought the previous false memories were trippy, wait till you hear about this one. But first, how do you remember the JFK assassination? Did you see 4 or 6 people in the car?

If you answered 4, then you're wrong. There were actually 6 people in the open-topped car including President Kennedy, Jacqueline, the governor and his wife as well as two secret service personnels. This continues to confuse a lot of people because we aren't used to checking for an extra row in a standard car.

CNN

8. Froot Loops

Buzzfeed

The Toucan Sam endorsed cereal is actually spelled Froot Loops. The fruit flavored breakfast food has always been spelled with double o's, it's not a typo.

9. Monopoly Man

Reddit

Rich Uncle Pennybags, better known as the Monopoly Man, has a pretty distinguishable appearance, but there's one aspect of his look that we always get wrong. The old man is never seen without his signature moustache, tuxedo, cane and top hat, but he never ever wore a monocle. I dare you to dig up the oldest box of the board game you can find and take a good look at his face before you deny it. Uncle Pennybags' look has not been altered since the game was introduced in 1936 so everyone is probably just confusing him for the Planters mascot, Mr. Peanut.

10. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood

"It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood" is one of the most iconic opening lines of a theme song, but many of us have been singing it wrong this entire time. Mr. Fred Rogers actually sings It's a beautiful day in THIS neighborhood," a fact that is making us question everything we thought we knew from our childhood. Have a listen below:

11. Mirror Mirror on the Wall

Snow White

"Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?" we have all repeated this line from Snow White countless times, but did you that you've been saying it wrong all along? Turns out the correct line is "Magic mirror on the wall, who is the fairest one of all?"

Did any of these facts surprise you? Let us know in the comments!

Blair isn't a bestselling author, but she has a knack for beautiful prose. When she isn't writing for Shared, she enjoys listening to podcasts.