Millions Remember These Things, but They Have Never Been Real! Are You Also a Victim of This Mysterious Phenomenon?
Final Fantasy IX’s Blank Was Never Called Blanc
Just like animated movies from our childhood, nostalgic video games also give way to many cases of the Mandela effect. A Redditor once spoke about how he and his friends mistakenly believed a character from “Final Fantasy IX” was called ‘Blanc’ (with French pronunciation and all) despite the fact he was called ‘Blank.’
Arguably one of the most popular role-playing games (RPGs) series in history, “Final Fantasy” is a sci-fi media franchise designed by Hironobu Sakaguchi and developed by Square Enix.
Nelson Mandela Never Died in Prison
It’s the Mandela-effect story that started it all. The South-African anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela passed away in 2013, aged 95. However, the news of his death surprised many people who thought he was already dead. How is that possible?
It turns out there was a widespread false memory involving the former South African president, and people worldwide thought he had died in prison during the ’80s. This popular false memory is what started the discussion around the other Mandela effects.
Mr. Monopoly Never Had a Monocle
For years, we thought that the rich-people-wearing-monocles stereotype came from the Monopoly Man, also known as Rich Uncle Pennybags. It turns out we were victims of the Mandela effect. The Monopoly game mascot, created by inventor Charles Darrow, has, in reality, never had a monocle!
It’s crazy that Mr. Monopoly has been around (and monocle-free) since the mid-’30s! The misconception that he has a monocle probably has something to do with knock-off Monopoly games one can find in some stores worldwide.
The Correct Sentence Is “Objects in Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear”
Pretty much all automobile passenger-side mirrors contain a safety warning reminding the people inside that the convexity of the mirrors can make some objects look smaller. But this is stated as a fact, not as a possibility, as many people think. What do we mean by this?
Simply that, the correct sentence is “Objects in mirror ARE closer than they appear,” and not “objects in mirror MAY BE closer than they appear,” as wrongly believed by many Mandela effect victims.
Henry VIII Never Posed While Holding a Turkey Leg
Arguably one of the most infamous kings in history, England’s Henry VIII did plenty of strange things throughout his life. He was particularly known for his bizarre relationships with women, for being an “extravagant spender,” and for being a strong opposer to the Pope.
But even though Henry VIII was quite the character, he never posed for his portrait while holding a turkey leg (he was holding his gloves). Why do so many people remember it differently? Maybe because they always expect something crazy coming from this guy.
Traffic Lights Go Red, Yellow, and Green
The thing about the Mandela effect is that it can either be immediately relatable or not relatable at all. While we never doubted that the order of the lights in traffic lights was red, yellow, and green (counting from the top), some people wrongly believe it was once the other way around.
Because traffic signs are highly standardized, it’s clear that was never the case. Oh, and a curious fact: did you know that inmates make a vast percentage of American road signs?
C-3PO Has a Silver Leg
Generally, the Mandela effect comes around either because people “create” a non-existing memory or misinterpret one or more facts about a movie, TV show, or product. But when it comes to C-3PO’s “forgotten” silver leg, it’s just a bizarre case of people collectively ignoring a blatant detail.
To put it simply, the famous android from the “Star Wars” film series isn’t entirely made of gold. He has a silver leg! It can be easily spotted in pretty much all of the scenes of the original movies.
Morpheus Never Said, “What if I Told You”
Anyone who loves memes has stumbled upon a “What if I told you…” meme featuring ‘Morpheus’ from the sci-fi film trilogy “The Matrix.” However, ‘Morpheus’ (brilliantly portrayed by Laurence Fishburne) never said those words in any of “The Matrix” movies.
While this is considered a classic example of the Mandela effect, it was probably not caused by a collective memory lapse but rather by the popularity of a specific meme. We can’t even resist saying: “What if I told you… I never said if I told you?”
Woody Had a Snake in His “Boots,” Not His “Boot”
The 1995 classic “Toy Story” was the first big 3D-animated motion picture, and it’s arguably one of the most influential movies released by Walt Disney (in collaboration with Pixar). The story is equally groundbreaking, focusing on a group of living toys competing for the love of a child.
For some unknown reason, though, many “Toy Story” fans remember Woody’s famous quote, “There is a snake in my boots,” incorrectly, believing he refers simply to one “boot.” It’s a classic Mandela effect example and a great excuse to rewatch “Toy Story.”
South America Sits East of North America
The names of things are one of the most common causes of the Mandela effect. Many people wrongly remembered South America to sit precisely below North America because of its name—as stated in a National Geographic article. However, South America isn’t precisely south of North America (despite the terminology).
Looking at the map, it’s clear that the largely sunny continent of South America sits not only below the United States but also to the east. Some parts of Brazil, for example, are actually directly below Greenland.
Sinbad Never Starred in a ‘90s Genie Movie
It’s crazy: when we think of the American actor Sinbad, we immediately think of a genie. But it turns out that the “Good Burger” star was never part of a ’90s flick featuring a genie, nor has he played a genie on any other occasion. The explanation for this odd Mandela effect example?
Our best bet is “Kazaam,” which is a real ’90s movie about a genie that stars a Black actor too! The only tiny detail people have seemed to forget? NBA’s Shaquille O’Neal plays the protagonist.
It’s Jif, Not Jiffy
There’s no shortage of crazy Mandela-effect stories in the corporate world, and this is yet another one. While many people remember the peanut butter brand “Jiffy,” it’s actually called Jif. The origin of the misconception is probably an old ad in which the expression “in a jiffy” is used.
Luckily, we now know what to call this peanut butter brand established more than six decades ago. This particular Mandela-effect example was referenced in an “American Dad” episode about a significant national conspiracy.
There’s No Cornucopia in the Fruit of the Loom Logo
This is one of the most mysterious Mandela effect examples around, particularly for American citizens. All over the Internet, people swear to remember seeing a cornucopia (a goat’s horn filled with produce) in the logo of the clothing manufacturer Fruit of the Loom. However, it never existed.
One can even find the fake Fruit of the Loom logo (with the cornucopia) online, as it was recreated “from memory” by an unknown artist. Remarkably, some people working at Fruit of the Loom can’t even believe the cornucopia never existed.
Mona Lisa Never Stopped Smiling
This one is tricky because it involves (arguably) the most famous painting in history: Leonardo DaVinci’s “Mona Lisa.” The woman’s expression in the picture has always been puzzling, but some people swear remembering that she didn’t have a smile but rather a serious face.
Looking at the painting, though, it seems clear that she’s at least smirking. Additionally, there are plenty of academic studies and courses focusing precisely on the famous “Mona Lisa” smile (including a recent study by the University of Cincinnati).
It’s Cheez-It, Not Cheez-Itz
Cheez-It cheese crackers are one of those classic foods that have been in everyone’s pantry at least once. But some Mandela-effect victims are convinced that the brand was once called Cheez-Itz (the same, but with an extra ‘Z’ at the end). Where does this additional letter come from?
Sadly, it’s hard to explain. Cheez-It crackers have been around since 1921, so there has been plenty of time for myths, mistakes, and misconceptions to develop. And to be honest, Cheez-Itz sounds cooler!
Shaggy Never Had a Big Adam’s Apple
One of the most mysterious Mandela-effect stories involves ‘Shaggy,’ a popular character from the animated series “Scooby Doo, Where Are You!” For unknown reasons, many people mistakenly believed that ‘Shaggy’ had a prominent Adam’s apple. It turns out that was never the case.
Looking back at all the original episodes of “Scooby Doo, Where Are You!,” it becomes apparent that the mysterious Adam’s apple was never there. This particular Mandela effect continues to blow people’s minds and was extensively shared on TikTok.
Curious George Never Had a Tail
The famous monkey from the “Curious George” books has been around since the late ’30s, and it’s at the center of one of the most common Mandela effects on the Internet. Contrary to popular opinion, the cartoon monkey never had a tail! So, why do so many people think he did?
Well, this can be a simple case of “Monkeys have tails, so Curious George surely had one too.” According to a thread on Quora, Curious George doesn’t have a tail because he is “secretly” an ape, not a monkey.
Nobody Knows for Sure Whether Tiananmen Square’s Tank Man Was Executed or Not
In the late ’80s, the world was shocked to learn that hundreds (or possibly thousands) of citizens were executed by the Chinese Communist Party following the famous Tiananmen Square protests. The fate of the most famous of all protesters, Tank Man, however, remains a mystery today.
While many Mandela-effect victims remember learning that Tank Man was executed, such was never proved or reported. According to Quartz, some historians claim that the famous Tank Man actually managed to escape to Taiwan.
It’s the Flintstones, Not the Flinstones
“The Flintstones” was a game-changing show. In addition to being one of the few animated sitcoms, it was also the first animated series to hold a prime-time slot on American television. It depicts the day-to-day of two next-door families living in the Stone Age.
But while everybody knows “The Flintstones,” not everybody has realized that the name of the show has two ‘Ts’ instead of one. It’s not “The Flinstones” because it’s comprised of the surname “Flint,” followed by the word “Stones.”
Fergie Is “So 3008,” Not “So 2008”
It’s impossible to talk about pop music in the mid-’00s without mentioning “The Black Eyed Peas.” The song “Boom Boom Pow” is but one of their many hits and the kind of song people love to sing along to. But due to the Mandela effect, many have been getting one of the lines in the lyrics completely wrong.
Fergie never sings, “I’m so 2008, you’re so 2000 and late,” but “I’m so 3008, you’re so 2000 and late.” It makes sense when you think about it.
Tom Cruise Wasn’t Wearing Sunglasses in His Classic Risky Business Dance Scene
The 1983 comedy/drama movie “Risky Business” was such a hit that people still dress as the main character (portrayed by Tom Cruise) for Halloween today! But while most ‘Joel’ costumes feature sunglasses, Tom Cruise never wore any during his classic pantless dance scene.
The confusion probably comes from the fact that the famous poster of the movie depicts ‘Joel’ wearing sunglasses. In the actual dance scene, all that Cruise was wearing was a shirt and a pair of socks.
What About This Misquoted Line From Casablanca?
The 1942 movie “Casablanca” is arguably one of the most iconic romantic movies of all time and a striking example of a Golden Age of Hollywood classic. But could it be that many people remember one of the film’s most famous quotes incorrectly?
One Redditor noticed correctly that the line “Play it again, Sam” never existed. In reality, what ‘Rick Blaine’ (portrayed by Humphrey Bogart) says is “If you can play it for her then you can play it for me. Now, play it!”
There’s One in Lord of the Rings, too
Misquoted movie lines are the Mandela-effect gift that keeps on giving! This one comes from “Lord of the Rings.” In the movie, many people believe ‘Gandalf’ (portrayed by the great Ian McKellen) screams, “Run, you fools!” before saving the lives of the rest of the fellowship. But the actual line is, “Fly, you fools!”
Regarded as one of the most successful trilogies in film history, “Lord of the Rings” grossed around $3 billion at the box office and landed a whopping 17 Academy Awards.
There’s Only One Cinderella Castle
Ask any child, and he or she will tell you that Walt Disney theme parks are like heaven on Earth. Contrary to popular opinion, though, there is only one Cinderella Castle in Walt Disney theme parks (it’s in Florida’s Magic Kingdom).
The famous princess castle in California’s Disneyland is sometimes mistakenly called “Cinderella Castle” despite belonging to Sleeping Beauty. To be honest, this one’s only fair: it makes sense that Disney princesses each get one castle. Cinderella would be pushing her luck!
Tony the Tiger’s Nose Is Blue, Not Black
Tony the Tiger made his debut in 1952 and has been helping Kellogg’s sell cereal for more than half a century. Even though the character designed by Daryl Graham has been around for ages, some people still don’t know that his nose is blue, not black.
The noses of animated characters inspired by animals tend to be black, so that’s probably why so many people have fallen victim to this Mandela-effect example. Curiously, though, Tigger’s nose (from “Winnie the Pooh”) is also not black, but red.
Chartreuse Is Yellow-Green, Not Magenta-Pink
This well-spotted example of the Mandela effect got us scratching our heads. Like many people, we believed for too long that the color chartreuse was a combination of magenta and pink. As it turns out, the word actually refers to a combination of the colors yellow and green!
A word of French origin, “chartreuse,” comes from an 18th-century French liqueur called green chartreuse. The confusion can be explained by the fact a liqueur called yellow chartreuse was also available at the time.
The Laughing Cow Doesn’t Have a Nose Ring
The image you’re seeing isn’t real. The brand of processed cheese, The Laughing Cow, has been around since 1921. However, the cow in the logo never wore a nose ring despite the fact many people remember it did. But what’s the origin of this instance of the Mandela effect?
Well, the cow does wear some earrings (shaped like The Laughing Cow boxes) in some products, so there’s that! Additionally, real-life cows sometimes have nose rings, so there’s that as well.
There’s Only One ‘T’ in SweeTarts
SweeTarts is a sort of sweet and sour candies that’s been around since the early ’60s. Once owned by Nestlé, SweeTarts was since acquired by the Ferrero Group. Because of its name and packaging (often featuring a ‘T’ divided into two colors), many people believe SweeTarts’ name is written with two ‘Ts’ instead of one.
Because such a thing never happened, this can be considered a classic example of the Mandela effect. One of the sweetest that has made it into the list, by the way!
It’s Cup Noodles, Not Cup O’ Noodles
Noodles in a cup is a popular type of food because it’s filling, tasty, affordable, and easy to make. Many brands sell noodles in a cup, but Nissin Foods’ Cup Noodles is perhaps one of the oldest (it’s been around for more than 50 years) and most popular.
However, an Instagram user noticed that, due to the Mandela effect, some people believed “Cup Noodles” was actually written as “Cup o’ Noodles.” Yet, the missing “of” was never part of the product’s name.
The “And” in Mike and Ike Was Never Spelled “’N”
When it comes to the Mandela effect, conjunctions are pretty problematic. In the aforementioned example, people thought there was a missing “of” in the name of Cup Noodles. This time around, many swear that the “and” in the name of Mike and Ike was once spelled as “‘N.”
First introduced in 1940, Mike and Ike never used the “‘N.” The brand of candy has probably confused some people because the names of candy products tend to feature abbreviations of conjunctions.
It’s Chuck E. Cheese, Not Chuckie’s Cheese
Created by Atari’s co-founder, Chuck E. Cheese is an American chain of entertainment centers and pizza restaurants that’s particularly popular among families with small children. With more than 600 locations, Chuck E. Cheese can be considered an American classic, so why do so many people get its name wrong?
Many believe “Chuck E. Cheese” is written just like it sounds: “Chuckie’s Cheese.” More than a case of the Mandela effect, this is an example of people not reading the restaurant chain’s name with enough attention.
Is It ”Pixie” or ”Pixy?”
Why do so many people remember the name of brands incorrectly? We’re not sure, but we know many Mandela-effect examples involve misspelled brand names. This one’s so spot-on it even made us feel confused! So, is it “Pixie Stix” or “Pixy Stix?”
The correct form is and always has been “Pixy Stix,” although many people remember it differently. A popular brand of colored powdered candy, Pixy Stix has been around since 1942; its creation was inspired by a penny drink mix.
Tinker Bell Never Dotted Disney’s ‘I’
In the intro to some of Walt Disney’s movies (especially in DVD editions), Peter Pan’s Tinker Bell appears for a short moment. Many people believe she uses her hand to dot the ‘I’ in the Walt Disney logo. However, that’s not what happens.
By analyzing the intro to some of Walt Disney’s DVDs closely, it’s clear that the Walt Disney logo is all in there even before Tinker Bell appears. The origin of this bizarre Mandela effect is not known.
Final Fantasy IX’s Blank Was Never Called Blanc
Just like animated movies from our childhood, nostalgic video games also give way to many cases of the Mandela effect. A Redditor once spoke about how he and his friends mistakenly believed a character from “Final Fantasy IX” was called ‘Blanc’ (with French pronunciation and all) despite the fact he was called ‘Blank.’
Arguably one of the most popular role-playing games (RPGs) series in history, “Final Fantasy” is a sci-fi media franchise designed by Hironobu Sakaguchi and developed by Square Enix.
The Tip of Pikachu’s Tail Was Never Black
Talking of nostalgic video games, what about the titanically popular video game series “Pokémon?” The classic RPG features many collectible animated monsters, but Pikachu is undoubtedly the most famous of them. However, even though many remember it that way, the tip of his tail was never black.
Looking back at Pikachu’s designs, it’s clear that the end of his tail was never black. However, the first-ever Pikachu did have some black elements in his tail, so maybe that’s the origin of this common Mandela effect.
There Was No Spider-Man on the Cartridge of the 2000 Video Game ”Spider-Man”
“Spider-Man” is a Playstation 1 video game released in 2000 featuring the iconic Marvel Comics character on the cover. Many people who played the game swear that the game’s cartridge was similar to the cover, meaning that it also displayed an image of Spider-Man.
In reality, though, Spider-Man was never present on the cartridge of “Spider-Man” (probably due to some bizarre production mistake). We assume that this Mandela effect was merely caused by the fact “Spider-Man” players always remembered the video game’s cover, not the cartridge itself.
Hannibal Lecter Never Said “Hello, Clarice”
From video games to cinema, why not take a trip down memory lane to recall the suspenseful 1991 masterpiece “The Silence of the Lambs?” In the movie, ‘Hannibal Lecter’ (portrayed by Anthony Hopkins) looks his scariest when he says the famous quote “Hello, Clarice.” But that line was never in the movie!
According to Shmoop, the closest ‘Hannibal’ got to saying “Hello, Clarice” was saying “Good evening, Clarice” in a much less remarkable scene. Could it be that we’ve all watched “The Silence of the Lambs” in an alternative universe?
Darth Vader Never Said “Luke, I Am Your Father”
Forget about “The Silence of the Lambs!” What about what’s arguably the most iconic movie quote of all time? In the original “Star Wars” films, ‘Darth Vader’ makes a revelation to ‘Luke Skywalker’ by saying, “No. I am your father.” So, why have so many people misquoted the line as “Luke, I am your father?”
To be honest, there’s something more iconic (and self-explanatory) to the Mandela-effect line than to the actual line in the movie, which is part of an ongoing dialogue.
It’s Funyons, Not Funions
The Mandela effect is pretty popular on TikTok, and content creator Abdul Rehman discovered a relatively unknown example of the phenomenon. It involves Funyons (yes, that’s how it’s spelled), an onion-flavored corn snack that was introduced in the United States in 1969.
Contrary to popular opinion, Funyons are not (and never were) spelled as Funions. Misconceptions involving corporation names are some of the most common. Curiously enough, the Funyons snack was originally inspired by the moon landing and the Woodstock Festival.
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