'Satire' websites exploiting California wildfires generate wave of fake celebrity news

Jim McManagan January 17, 2025
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Various locations, including celebrities' homes, are the subject of the satirical headlines. Image by Facebook/AAP

WHAT WAS CLAIMED

Whoopi Goldberg’s and Kathy Griffin’s homes have been destroyed in the LA fires.

OUR VERDICT

False. The original articles featuring the headlines were labelled as “satire”.

AAP FACTCHECK – Fake news headlines about the properties of celebrities and politicians being destroyed in California's deadly wildfires are being shared on social media as if they're authentic.

The headlines, however, can be traced back to articles published by self-described "satire" websites SpaceXMania and Esspots.

The wildfires in Los Angeles have killed 27 people and destroyed or damaged more than 12,000 structures.

A Facebook post claiming Whoopi Goldberg's mansion has been destroyed includes a graphic featuring the actor and a photo of a burning house.

"BREAKING NEWS: Whoopi Goldberg's Los Angeles Mansion Destroyed by Wildfire, Losses in the Millions," the caption reads.

Facebook post claiming Whoopi Goldberg lost her homes in LA fires
Headlines claiming Whoopi Goldberg lost her home in the LA fires are incorrect. (Facebook/AAP)

Other posts include captions claiming actor Kathy Griffin's estate, TV personality Mark Cuban's medicine company, the set of ABC program The View and a "Gay Football League Stadium" have been destroyed.

Links provided in the posts' captions point to various websites on which the stories are presented as real news.

However, the headlines all originated on the SpaceXMania.com subsidiary Esspots.

Like its parent site, Esspots describes itself as a "one-stop destination for satirical news" providing "the latest and greatest in fake news and absurdity".

Headlines on Facebook posts claiming Jason Aldean and Kid Rock would hold a concert for fire victims were also copied from Esspots