We’ve all had experiences where we swear we remember a situation or event a specific way, but almost the rest of the world, and Google, swears it is another way. This could include events, historical facts, pop culture, and that one Star Wars line – “No, I am your father.”
This is known as the Mandela Effect.
wHAT IS THE MANDELA EFFECT?
The Mandela Effect is a psychological phenomenon in which a large group of people collectively misremember or share false memories of specific events, details, or facts. These misaligned memories can relate to events that either never happened at all, happened differently than remembered, or involve details that have changed over time.
How did it start?
This effect all starts with Mr. Nelson Mandela.
The Mandela Effect was named by the paranormal researcher Fiona Broome after she recalled Nelson Mandela dying in the 1980s. She could remember everything about it, she could have sworn there was even a news coverage of his funeral. He later, well after the 1980s, became the president of South Africa, actually passing away in the year of 2013. After, she found that others misremembered the same thing in the same way. Broome began studying the phenomena of false memory with a collective group of people. She then deemed the phenomenon the Mandela Effect.
MANDELA EFFECTS
We’ve come across quite a few examples in our lifetime (whether we realize it or not), some being more widely recognized than others. Let’s take a closer look at them.
Popularly known:
- No, I am your Father
- Froot Loops
- Jif
- Looney Tunes
Lesser known:
- Pikachu’s Tail
- Curious George
- Sex and the City
- Febreze
- Skechers
Breakdown of the top five most known Mandela Effects that will have you putting your thinking cap on:
- Mr. Monopoly
- Does he wear a monocle? Does he not? This one revolves around the popular misconception that the Monopoly mascot wears a monocle. Many recall the character with a monocle, associating it with his wealthy, old-fashioned image. Fitting, right? However, the truth is that he has never worn a monocle; he’s always been depicted without one.
- No, I am your father
- The Star Wars Mandela Effect of the famous quote is one of the most well-known examples. Many fans, and non-fans alike, remember Darth Vader saying, “Luke, I am your father” during the iconic reveal scene in The Empire Strikes Back. Shockingly, the actual line is, “No, I am your father.” This misquotation has permeated popular culture, leading to countless references, parodies, and misunderstandings about the scene.
- Froot Loops
- Think you know how to spell? WRONG. The cereal brand would have children losing spelling bees left and right. One would think the proper spelling should be “Fruit Loops”, but it is “Froot Loops”. Weird right?
- Jif
- The popularly known peanut butter brand has everyone skeptical if they’re properly remembering the name or if they’re combining it with their competitor – Skippy. Do you remember “Jif” or “Jiffy”?
- Looney Tunes
- The title of this popular 1930s cartoon bothers me TO THIS DAY! The debate lies between its spelling, Looney “Toons” or “Tunes”?
Looking closer at the five Mandela EffectS you may not Have heard of:
- Pikachu
- If you were to draw Pikachu, how would his tail look? Many fans recall Pikachu having a black tip at the end of his tail, which they picture vividly from childhood memories. In reality, Pikachu’s tail has always been solid yellow with no black tip.
- Curious George
- Picture this – you’ve made it onto Jeopardy, about to win it all. All you have to do is answer this question correctly. The annoying music meant to distract you is blasting throughout. The question is: “Do you remember the lovable little monkey, Curious George, having a tail?” Yes? No? Are you sure? The correct answer is: Curious George never had a tail.
- Sex and the City
- If you’ve never watched the show, you’ve at least heard its notable name, “Sex and the City”, but some remember this title as “Sex in the City”. All I have to say is – great show, do recommend!
- Febreze
- Febreze? Febreeze? This common misconception surrounding the spelling of the popular air freshener brand has made the list of glitches in the matrix.
- Skechers
- The brand is a head-scratcher that trips up even the brand’s most dedicated users. Many distinctly remember the popular shoe brand being spelled “Sketchers,” with a “t” in the middle. But, no matter how you remember it, the correct spelling is “Skechers”—without the “t.”
Do you remember?
Was there a glitch in the system? The Mandela Effect is a wild ride that will have you questioning your own memory. From Mr. Monopoly’s non-existent monocle (I’m not convinced) to the surprising spelling of Froot Loops, it’s clear that our brains can play some serious tricks on us. Or did we jump realities? Next time you’re convinced you remember something a certain way, just remember you’re not alone in this! Keep your eyes peeled for those glitches and enjoy this fun conversation topic.