Q: Did Denzel Washington call Barack Obama the “criminal-in-chief”?
A: No. The actor has been a steady supporter of Obama and of other Democrats.
Fake Denzel Washington Story
Debunking Viral Claims
These articles debunk misinformation shared on social media. We also provide resources for readers: an article and a video on how to combat misinformation.
From late 2016 to early 2025, FactCheck.org was one of several organizations working with Meta to debunk misinformation shared on Meta’s social media platforms.
Oprah’s 2013 Quote on Racism, in Context
Q: Did Oprah Winfrey say, “White People Just Have To Die.”
A: No. In 2013, she said that “older people, who were born, and bred, and marinated” in racism “have to die” before racism can be solved.
No Democratic Prostitute Ring in N.J.
Q: Were three Democratic state senators arrested in New Jersey for running a prostitution ring?
A: No. The senators named in the story don’t even exist.
Bogus Claim on Mosque Raid
Q: Were 11 would-be terrorists arrested in a late-night raid at a mosque?
A: No. The FBI confirmed that there has been no such raid.
Freeman Didn’t Say ‘Lock Her Up’
Q: Did actor Morgan Freeman say that Hillary Clinton should be jailed?
A: No. He has donated to Democrats and endorsed Clinton for president in 2016.
Bogus Black Lives Matter Stories Won’t Die
Q: Were a dozen or more women found dead in a freezer with “Black Lives Matter” carved in them?
A: No. Versions of that false story have been circulating online for almost two years.
No Cash, No Corpses for Made-up Mayor
Q: Did a Democratic mayor in Missouri have a storage locker holding cash and dead bodies?
A: No. The story is entirely made-up — the town it names doesn’t even exist.
Muslims Aren’t Banned From Government
Q: Did the U.S. Supreme Court uphold a law banning Muslims from serving in government?
A: No. There is no such law. Two Muslims currently serve in the U.S. Congress.
Train Crash Claims Are Off The Rails
Q: Was a Muslim man arrested for causing a passenger train to crash in Washington state?
A: No. Officials are still investigating the cause of the crash and have made no arrests.
More Claims of Alabama Voter Fraud
Q: Were illegal voters bused in to Alabama to swing the election to Doug Jones? Were thousands of fraudulent votes recorded for him?
A: Those claims were made by self-described “satirical” websites. The Alabama Secretary of State says there’s no evidence that fraudulent voting affected the outcome.