14 Outrageous Tabloid Headlines People Believed
These jaw-dropping tabloid headlines were pure fiction — but plenty of people fell for them anyway.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
Before the internet gave us instant fact-checking, tabloids ruled the checkout line with wild, unbelievable stories. Their covers promised shocking scoops and bizarre discoveries, and readers couldn’t help but buy in. Here are 14 of the most outrageous tabloid headlines that people actually believed — if only for a moment.
1. “Bat Boy Found in Cave!” – Weekly World News
Jeremy Bishop on Pexels
This half-human, half-bat creature reportedly hissed at rescuers and escaped from scientists. The image alone — sharp fangs and oversized ears — was unforgettable.
2. “Hillary Clinton Adopts Alien Baby”
Seth Anderson on Flickr
Complete with photos of a green-skinned infant, this headline claimed the First Lady had welcomed a space child. It was pure sci-fi fantasy — but some swore they saw it on the news.
3. “Elvis is Alive!”
Dave Malkoff on Flickr
Multiple variations of this ran for years, from Elvis spotted in diners to Elvis working at a gas station. The King just wouldn’t stay dead.
4. “Aliens Endorse Bill Clinton”
Gage Skidmore on Wikimedia Commons
In one of the more bizarre political stories, extraterrestrials supposedly threw their support behind the future president. The article featured grainy UFO images and anonymous alien “quotes.”
5. “Bigfoot Kept Lumberjack as Love Slave”
jvanrijn on Flickr
Equal parts horror and hilarity, this one detailed a woodland romance no one saw coming. The man was allegedly rescued with a new perspective on life.
6. “Satan Captured by U.S. Troops”
Konrad Ciężki on Pexels
A photo of a horned figure in chains accompanied this apocalyptic scoop. Readers were told the devil was hiding in a cave in Iraq.
7. “Woman Gives Birth to Alien Baby”
Alex Vinogradov on Unsplash
Tabloids loved alien pregnancies, and this one claimed the child had tentacles. Doctors were “stunned” and “refused to comment,” of course.
8. “Abraham Lincoln Was a Woman!”
IceKoldKube on Wikimedia Commons
This historical bombshell alleged Honest Abe wore disguises to hide his true identity. The proof? A blurry photo and an unnamed “expert.”
9. “Half-Man, Half-Alligator Found in Florida”
eyedealstuff on Unsplash
Naturally, Florida was the setting for this reptilian mystery. The creature reportedly attacked a jet ski and fled into a swamp.
10. “Baby Born with Antlers”
Banabila on Pexels
This headline claimed a newborn had tiny horns sprouting from his head. Doctors were baffled, and the parents blamed a deer sighting during pregnancy.
11. “Dead Celebrity Ghosts Party in Hollywood Mansion”
Susan Flores on Pexels
Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, and Elvis were all said to be haunting the same estate. The tabloid featured photos of “ghost energy” and floating orbs.
12. “Scientists Clone Dinosaur from Chicken Egg”
Daniel Tuttle on Unsplash
A “dino-chick” supposedly hatched in a lab and squawked like a T. rex. It was Jurassic Park fan fiction come to life — and readers ate it up.
13. “Man Marries His Dog — and They Have Twins”
Elina Volkova on Pexels
This one pushed the line between absurd and offensive. It claimed a rare “canine-human connection” resulted in a family.
14. “Atlantis Found Under Walmart Parking Lot”
Walmart on Flickr
Who knew a retail chain would be the key to ancient civilization? The tabloid detailed scuba dives beneath asphalt, revealing ancient statues and scrolls.