Fox News debunks 'Maskgate' interview theories after admiral appeared to be wearing prosthetic
nypost.com
When a glitchy video spawned a viral conspiracy about a prosthetic face, "Maskgate" became a masterclass in how pattern-seeking minds manufacture sinister plots from mundane technical errors.
ApopheniaBelief PerseveranceProportionality BiasMisinformation Effect
Theory Briefing
- A video compression glitch made Admiral Harward's face look like a prosthetic mask, instantly igniting a viral conspiracy theory.
- Fox News debunked the theory by confirming it was a technical artifact — yet the rumor had already spread widely, illustrating belief perseverance.
- The episode shows how apophenia, our brain's urge to find meaningful patterns in noise, fuels modern misinformation cycles at speed.