But what is the Mandela Effect exactly? This guide on the Mandela Effect, plus 50 Mandela Effect examples, will help you make sense of this fascinating phenomenon.
What is the Mandela Effect?
Named by paranormal researcher, Fiona Broome, the Mandela Effect is defined as an instance when you remember something that doesn’t match historical records. The name was coined after political leader Nelson Mandela’s death in 2013. Countless people swore he died when he was held prisoner in the 1980s and distinctly remember news coverage of the funeral.
What is the Mandela Effect definition?
The Mandela Effect is defined as a commonly held false memory. In the field of psychology, the term “false memory” is applied to anything that a person remembers incorrectly or inaccurately. As such, the term “Mandela Effect” is defined as a false yet widely held recollection.
50 Mandela Effect Examples
While the Mandela Effect has everyone questioning their memory, some might wonder if they’ve gone to a parallel universe… or if they’re simply losing their minds. But don’t worry—you’re not! These 50 Mandela Effect examples that compare popular beliefs with their realities are commonly misremembered—but the differences are jaw-dropping!
1. Jif vs Jiffy
Even though the name of your peanut butter doesn’t quite matter when you’re biting down on a delightful PB&J, some people swear that the peanut butter was actually named “Jiffy” and not just “Jif.” Speculators think that people might be getting “Jiffy” confused with the competing brand “Skippy.”
2. Oscar Mayer vs Oscar Meyer
You know the jingle. “My bologna has a first name, it’s O-S-C-A-R….” However, spelling out your bologna’s second name is under scrutiny. Some people insist the second lyric of the famous jingle, Mayer is spelled with an ‘e’ instead of an ‘a’.
3. The famous HBO show isn’t Sex in the City
The correct name of the show is Sex and the City but people have sworn they’ve seen legitimate merchandise with the show name spelled otherwise.
4. “… of the world!”
Legendary rock band Queen’s song We Are The Champions is usually heard at every triumphant sports moment but it ends a lot differently than most people can recall. Some people swore that singer, Freddie Mercury, belts out the lyric “of the world” at the end but, in reality, the original recording simply ends with “No time for losers, ’cause we are the champions.”
5. The Monopoly Man doesn’t have a monocle
Perhaps people are confusing him with Mr. Peanut, the Planter peanut’s mascot (who also wears a top hat and carries around a cane like the Monopoly Man). But there are a number of concerned citizens who can’t seem to grasp how the Monopoly man is monocle-less, when they’ve distinctly remembered him wearing one.
6. Pikachu’s tail
Some 90s kids clearly remember black detailing on the Pokemon character’s tail. However, in reality, it’s just yellow.
7. Leonardo DiCaprio’s Oscar Wins
Despite winning his first Oscar award in 2016 for his role in The Revenant, many people believed that he had won for his other films like Titanic and What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?
8. Darth Vader doesn’t say “Luke, I am your father.”
“Luke, I am your father” is probably one of the greatest misremembered lines in Star Wars (and cinematic) history. However, the line is simply “No. I am your father.”
9. The Sinbad genie movie doesn’t exist
If you need further proof that the 90s were a weird decade in history, check this odd Mandela Effect example. People swear that there was a genie movie starring comedian Sinbad. However, it was never made. Realists think they may be getting it confused with the film Kazam starring basketball player, Shaquille O’Neal.
10. The Ford Logo
Do you remember the curly wave at the end of the ‘F’ in the Ford logo? If you don’t, chances are you aren’t alone. However, in reality, the little flair has been part of the original logo since the 1990s.
11. Life isn’t always like a box of chocolates.
Forrest Gump might have been one of Tom Hanks’ most memorable roles with one of the most misremembered lines. It seems that the majority of film buffs remember Forrest Gump stating that his mama always said, “Life is like a box of chocolates.” Turns out that he actually said, “Life was like a box of chocolates.” Maybe Tom Hanks is actually a time traveler!
12. M.A.S.H.
Many M.A.S.H. viewers remember the death of one of the main loveable characters Colonel Walter Radar O’Reilly portrayed by actor Gary Burghoff. However, the character remained alive and well until his send-off episodes in season 8 of the series!
13. JFK’s car assassination
Even if you’re too young to remember the tragedy in real-time, you’ve probably seen footage of JFK’s assassination in history classes and read about it in textbooks. There is a common misremembering that there were only four passengers in the car. The truth is, the total number of passengers in the car was six. These included the driver, two secret service agents, Texas Governor at the time John Connally and his wife, Nellie Connally, plus President Kennedy and First Lady Jackie Kennedy. The possible explanation behind this common misconception is the angles from which the photos and videos of the assassination were taken, where the front passengers and the driver obscured the view to the jump seats and the Governor and his wife. Or we’re living in a parallel universe!
14. “Lucy, you’ve got some ‘splaining to do!”
Was never actually said on the iconic sitcom, I Love Lucy. The people who remember the famous catchphrase by Lucy’s husband, Ricky Ricardo, as “Lucy, you have some ‘splaining to do” might be living in a different universe. Instead, Ricky was filmed saying “Splain that if you can” and “Lucy, ‘splain.”
15. Cruella’s last name
If you’re a lover of Disney movies and dogs, chances are you’ve seen the 1960s hit 101 Dalmatians. Even though there is a song about Cruella, it’s a common misconception that her last name is spelled “DeVille” instead of “DeVil.” Which is quite fitting for this particular Disney villain.
16. Double Stuf Oreo vs Double Stuff Oreo
Maybe we were just busy dunking our favorite after-school cookie into an ice-cold glass of milk to notice that there isn’t actually a second ‘f’ on the Double Stuf Oreo packaging.
17. Meet the Flintstones!
Even though you have probably been pronouncing (or singing their theme song) of the name of this beloved animated family as the “Flinstones”, the actual name of this prehistoric family is the “Flintstones.”
18. Smokey Bear
Some may think that Smokey the Bear is the actual name of the famous bear informing us that we could only prevent forest fires. In actuality, the loveable park ranger bear is simply named “Smokey Bear.”
19. Fifty Nifty United States?
Most of us can recall learning about the 50 states that blossomed from 13 original colonies when we were taught about early American history. However, most people swear about learning about 51 or 52! This may have been due to the inclusion of the added territories to the US, like the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
20.KitKat vs Kit-Kat
Kit-Kat may look correct to you and you are not alone in thinking so! However, the classic chocolate bar has never had a hyphen in between Kit and Kat. The correct way to spell it is actually: KitKat.
21. Chartreuse
The controversy with this Mandela Effect is the strongest for proving there are parallel universes out there. Some people swear that they learned the color chartreuse is a pink/magenta color when, in reality, it’s a green/yellow hue.
22. Mr. Rogers’ Theme Song
You’ve probably sung along with Mr. Rogers as he opened his show with this loveable theme song. Most former kids remember him singing, “it’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood” but the lyric actually goes like, “it’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood.”
23. “Hello, Clarice.”
Does your hair crinkle up on the back of your neck every time you think of Anthony Hopkins as Hanibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs? In an iconic scene, Hopkins greets Jodie Foster who plays Clarice. Some people swear that he greets her with “Hello, Clarice” but in actuality, he simply says, “Good morning.”
24. Risky Business
Making for a great last-minute Halloween costume, Tom Cruise plays in a legendary scene in the film Risky Business where he’s depicted dancing in nothing but a button-down shirt, his tighty whities and a pair of sunglasses. However, in the scene and contrary to popular belief, Cruise is not wearing sunglasses.
25. The Golden Droid
Another Star Wars Mandela Effect that has even tricked some of the most diehard fans. The loveable robot sidekick, C3PO, is depicted to some as being all gold from head to toe. But if you look closer, the droid’s right leg is silver below the knee.
26. Cheez-It or Cheez-Itz?
You know those deliciously addicting cheesy baked snacks? The name of the brand is Cheez-It without the extra “z.”
27. “Run, you fools!”
Remember in The Lord of the Rings when Gandalf tells Frodo and the rest of the crew “Run, you fools!” before his dramatic fall? Truth is, the wise wizard is actually saying, “Fly, you fools!”
28. Where is Cinderella’s Castle?
Some Disney fanatics think that Cinderella’s castle is right near the entrance to Disneyworld. However, the iconic fairytale castle is just beyond the iconic Main Street of the Magic Kingdom.
29. Mona Lisa’s Smile
Despite the many controversies surrounding Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting, one stands out among the rest. Some art history buffs swear that Mona Lisa herself had a more clear smile painted on her face than the one she does now.
30. The Fruit of the Loom Logo
Do you remember the Fruit of the Loom logo stitched onto the back of your undies? If you’re recalling a cornucopia with fruit spilling out of it, you may be living in a parallel dimension. The original logo is just a pile of fruit!
31. Froot Loops vs Fruit Loops
You know that deliciously fruity kids’ cereal with the happy toucan on the box? Many people remember it being spelled “Fruit Loops,” but it’s always been spelled “Froot Loops.”
32. Abe Vigoda
Starring in films like The Godfather, Fish and Goodburger, actor Abe Vigoda passed away in 2016. But, there have been multiple reports of his death from different sources in the decades prior to his passing.
33. Sally Field’s Oscar Acceptance Speech
“You like me, you really like me!” was the line in Sally Field’s award acceptance speech that we all thought we heard. In reality, she said, “I can’t deny the fact that you like me, right now, you like me!”
34. King Henry VIII’s Turkey Leg
Some historians swear up and down that there is a portrait that exists with the medieval king of England holding a turkey leg. However, the turkey leg ceases to exist.
35. Patrick Swayze’s Cancer Battle
The talented actor who dirty danced his way into our hearts, Patrick Swayze, succumbed to pancreatic cancer in 2009. However, there are numerous people who say that they distinctly remember reading or hearing about the actor beating cancer and recovering.
36. Curious George’s Tail
Think back to your childhood when you read the Curious George books or watched the cartoon on TV. Do you remember a tail? If you do, you may be secretly a time traveler bouncing between parallel universes. Curious George is tailless!
37. The Challenger Space Shuttle Explosion
Many people who were alive in the early 80s remember the horrific explosion that took place just 73 seconds after the Challenger lifted off. The official date of the tragedy is January 28, 1986, but some people swear that the accident happened in 1985 or 1984.
38. The Lindbergh Baby Case
When famous aviator, Charles Lindbergh’s, 20-month-old child was abducted in 1932, it became a widespread media sensation. Even though a child’s remains were found a mere 2 months later and the killer was later convicted and put on death row, many people still speculate that the case is not yet solved.
39. The Canonization of Mother Teresa
Many religious folks today believe that Catholic nun and missionary, Mother Teresa, was canonized by Pope John Paul II back in the 1990s while she was still alive. However, she was canonized by Pope Francis in 2016.
40. Neil Armstrong’s Death
He may have been the first man to walk on the moon but a large number of people don’t remember Neil Armstrong’s death. It seems that many people seemed to have forgotten that the moonman passed away in 2012, while others probably let the news pass them by.
41. Ed McMahon and the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes
Do you have a vivid memory of Ed McMahon appearing on people’s doorsteps to hand them huge checks and balloons after winning the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes? Chances are, you’re not the only one. However, the Tonight Show’s sidekick never made any such house calls. He endorsed the American Family Publishers, which was a rival sweepstake promotion and never once appeared on camera.
42. The Berenstain Bears vs The Berenstein Bears
Everyone remembers the lovable bear family who lived in a tree and taught us lessons like the importance of kindness, but their name is up for debate! Some folks seem to recall the book series and the cartoon being known as The Berenstein Bears. If you look now, they’re actually called The Berenstain Bears. Mind blown!
43. Gremlins
The Gremlins movie was released in 1984 and has become a major cult classic. But even some of the most avid fans still swear that the name of the Gremlin was Spike, but the actual name of the villainous creature was Stripe.
44. The location of New Zealand
New Zealand is located right by Australia but on which side? Many people would argue that New Zealand is located Northeast of Australia but in actuality, New Zealand is located Southeastern from Australia.
45. Looney Tunes vs Looney Toons
You may know the universe that gave us memorable characters like Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig and Tweety Bird as Looney Toons. However, Warner Brothers produced the series as “Looney Tunes.”
46. The Evil Queen’s Mirror
No matter how old you are, chances are that you’ve seen Snow White and the Seven Dwarves at least once. At the beginning of the film, if you remember the Evil Queen’s infamous line “Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?” you may be in the Mandela Effect! The actual line is “Magic mirror on the wall…”
47. The Tiananmen Square Tank Man
Many people who were alive in the late 80s, remember the Tiananmen Square protests in China in 1989. There was a specific incident of a man standing in front of an approaching tank, and getting run over. However, the truth is the man did approach the tank and got dangerously close to it, but he was forcibly removed from the path of the tank.
48. Reverend Billy Graham’s Death
Even though famous evangelist, Billy Graham, just passed away in February 2018, many people swear they read the headline about his death decades ago.
49. Skechers
The famous footwear brand may have been the latest trend in the early 1990s, but a lot of people do not know how to properly spell the company’s name. While some believe it is Sketchers, the truth is that the name does not have a “t.” It is simply – Skechers.
50. Febreze
The famous air freshener may be a household name and come in various scents, but quite a few folks believe that its name is spelled “Febreeze.” The truth of the matter, it has always been “Febreze.” If these 50 Mandela Effect examples weren’t enough, test your memory with these 65 pop culture trivia questions.
