ExpressVPN found online social platforms were exploiting buzz around celebrity lifestyles to drive fake news stories online.
American football star Tom Brady tops the list of celebrities most associated with fake news online, according to new research commissioned by privacy and security company ExpressVPN.
Brady, who announced and then rescinded his retirement from American Football earlier this year, was named in over 72.4 million posts mentioning fake news. Brady earlier this year was also under fire on social media – when social media trolls reported that the legendary QB was going to make a move to the Miami Dolphins – later reported by Head Coach: “Fake news”.
LeBron James rolled in at number two in the list with 14.7 million posts mentioning him in association with fake news on social media. One of the ‘GOAT’s of NBA”, Michael Jordan has been associated with 523,524posts on social media. It’s not surprising to come across fake news about the sporting legend – in 2015 Jordan was reported dead following a heart attack, and this wasn’t the first or last time the legend made it on trolls social media accounts.
One of 2022’s highest paid actors, and former WWE wrestler, Dwayne (the Rock) Johnson was the sports star with the lowest reach of fake news posts – following whispers of a return to WWE earlier this year. The Rock was referenced in just 2,545 posts mentioning fake news online in 2022.
The research looked at how often sport stars names were posted (on social media, forums, and comments) alongside the phrase ‘fake news’ between January and October 2022, ranking the sport stars based on the reach of those posts. The top sport stars are:
| Rank | Sport Star | Reach |
| 1 | Tom Brady | 72,444,290 |
| 2 | Lebron James | 1,476,540 |
| 3 | Michael Jordan | 523,524 |
| 4 | Lionel Messi | 344,641 |
| 5 | Mike Tyson | 192,497 |
| ,6 | Shaq | 12,112 |
| 7 | Venus Williams | 3,620 |
| 8 | The Rock/ Dwayne Johnson | 2,545 |
Tips on staying smart about fake news online
Love them or loathe them, following the lives of celebrities has become a daily ritual for millions with social media making it easier than ever to stay up-to-date. But as we have all learned, not everything that you read online is true. Fake news has proliferated in recent years, whether concerning current events or celebrity gossip. And of course, in some cases, it might very well be the celebrity sharing fake news—or just being accused of doing so.
When browsing online, it’s important to be skeptical of the news you read. ExpressVPN has shared three tips about getting information online:
- Don’t get your information exclusively from social media – When staying up-to-date with the daily news, don’t solely rely on social media. Social media is a hotbed of fake news, with some profiles set up just to share inaccurate information. It’s always worth checking the news you read using different sources. Looking at how different established news sites cover the same story will give you a more well-rounded perspective on the legitimacy of that information.
- Look for red flags in a post – Is the article current? For an older article, even if it was once accurate, the facts might have changed since its publication. Did the data or interviews come from biased sources? Is the writer a reputable specialist on a topic, and do they have an agenda? Check them out with a quick Google search.
- Always check before you share – Before you spread the news on your personal social profiles, always pause and consider its accuracy.
To see the full celebrity rankings please visit: https://www.expressvpn.com/blog/ranked-celebrities-most-associated-with-fake-news/
