21 Popular Viral Photos That Fooled Everyone into Believing They Were Real

Even in the era before artificial intelligence, individuals were willing to dedicate time and effort to manipulating images on Photoshop in order to make them go viral. Many succeeded in creating pictures that captivated the internet, only for the truth to be revealed later on. Here are 21 well-known viral photos that were initially believed to be real, but were actually proven to be fake.

One of the most popular images featured in this collection depicted a cheerleader experiencing a mishap while being tossed in the air during a routine. This particular photo circulated widely on early Facebook, much to the amusement of viewers. However, it was later discovered that the cheerleader's routine had actually gone smoothly, and the image was simply a cleverly edited Photoshop prank. Thankfully, the individuals below her were spared from any potential harm.