A viral TikTok clip claiming to show whale trainer Jessica Radcliff being killed by an orca during a live performance has been confirmed to be a hoax.
The video, which quickly gained millions of views, was found to be AI-generated, with no credible evidence or official records supporting Radcliffe’s existence.
According to multiple reports, including the International Business Times, experts determined the footage used AI-generated voices and archival material to create the illusion of a real event.
The video alleged that the attack took place at Pacific Blue Marine Park and was provoked by menstrual blood, a detail experts say is often inserted into fabricated stories to heighten emotional reaction.
While the event never occurred, the fabricated clip appears to draw from real-life tragedies.
In 2009, Alexis Martínez, a 29-year-old orca trainer at Loro Parque in the Canary Islands, died from internal bleeding and injuries after an incident with a whale named Keto. In 2010, Dawn Brancheau, 36, was killed by Tilikum, an orca at SeaWorld Orlando, after being dragged underwater during a performance, an event later examined in the documentary Blackfish.
Experts note that blending fictional elements with details from actual incidents can make false stories seem more convincing, which likely helped the Radcliffe hoax spread rapidly online.
Authorities and fact-checkers are urging social media users to verify sources before sharing shocking claims.
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