Top 10 Most Popular Conspiracies of All Time

This isn’t the first celebrity death conspiracy theory – we’re looking at you Paul McCartney, or whoever you really are – but this one has stayed prominent for years. The theory states that Avril Lavigne was replaced by a woman named Melissa Vandella, with the super reliable source being a blog written by a fan in 2011. Allegedly, Lavigne fell on some hard personal times in the early 2000s, leading her to take her own life, after which she was replaced. Some of the clues include her song lyrics, which fans have interpreted as hinting at the situation, as well as a supposed change in her appearance over the years. Why did the internet have to go and make things so complicated?

Pseudoscience has spewed some of the most well-known conspiracy theories around today, and this one has gained serious traction. It goes without saying that the pyramids of Egypt are an impressive feat, especially considering that they were built long before modern technology. Because of this, some have concluded that extraterrestrials must have somehow been involved in their construction. Makes sense, right? To top it off, theorists posit that the pyramids align with the aliens’ homes, as their location supposedly correlates with constellations like Orion’s Belt. While the methods behind the construction of the pyramids remain somewhat of a mystery, we’re not sure if this explanation is the one we’re willing to buy.

When Princess Di tragically passed away in August of 1997, the world was shocked and deeply saddened. In the years since, people have wondered if her death was truly an accident, giving rise to numerous conspiracy theories. Diana died in a car crash, alongside Dodi Fayed, a Muslim man with whom she was in a romantic relationship, a union the monarchy was rumored to have disapproved of. Moreover, she had previously expressed fears of being silenced by the royal family, and some even suspect that the driver being intoxicated was not coincidental, but part of a larger scheme. Whatever the truth is, we can’t help but wonder what her life would have looked like today.

The September 11th attacks brought the United States to a standstill, and the footage from that tragic day still sends shivers down our spines. However, it is believed by some that American leaders may have had prior knowledge of the attacks, with some theories even suggesting that the U.S. government could have orchestrated them. Why would they do this, you might ask? Well, the most popular theory is that it was a strategy to rally public support for the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, in a bid to access their oil reserves and build gas pipelines. It’s been a few decades since and the entire truth remains elusive, but that hasn’t stopped the theories from spiralling.

Also known as the “Big Pharma” conspiracies, these theories suggest that major companies that specialize in treating illnesses are withholding cures that have already been discovered. This is supposedly being done in order to profit from long-term treatments instead of offering a one-and-done solution. The most infamous claim among these is that a cure for cancer exists, but is being kept hidden from the public. While this theory has circulated for years, mistrust in pharmaceutical companies reached new heights during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially as vaccines were being developed and distributed. Keeping such monumental cures a secret would be extraordinarily difficult, so if this is true, it’s surprising no one has put forward concrete evidence of it yet.

Many people love to disagree with science, and this is maybe the biggest example of that. Climate change deniers reject the reality of global warming because they tend to distrust the scientists researching it, the government issuing warnings about it, or the advocates trying to push for change. Acknowledging that climate change is real would require finding alternative resources or completely transforming the way certain industries work, which many are reluctant to do. As a result some push theories denying the phenomenon, arguing that human activity has little to no effect on it. The prospect of global warming is certainly alarming, and scientists warn of catastrophic consequences if no action is taken. For some, denying the problem seems like the more convenient route.

A common theme in conspiracy theories is that those who buy into them have a deep mistrust of the systems at play in our society, and the New World Order theory exemplifies this mindset. It proposes that those in power are working towards establishing a global totalitarian government. This concept ties into the infamous Illuminati conspiracy theory, which claims that a secret group is already controlling the world. Globalization may be on the rise, but that doesn’t mean that this theory has any irrefutable evidence to support it at this point. Only time will tell if the predictions of the conspiracy theorists hold any truth.

Alien conspiracy theories have existed for as long as conspiracy theories themselves, and the alleged secrets surrounding the Roswell incident are perhaps the most well-known. In 1947, the U.S. Army recovered an object that many later claimed was a UFO, even though officially, it was reported as debris from a conventional weather balloon. This discovery sparked speculation that the government had found a connection to aliens and was covering it up. Similar theories surround Area 51, a military base used for testing aircrafts and weapons. Some believe it also serves as a storage site for UFOs, linking it to the Roswell incident. Are there extraterrestrials among us? Only time will tell.

While some conspiracies involve only one major theory, this one has given rise to several. After President John F. Kennedy was killed, lots of ideas floated around as to what really happened. Although Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested for the crime, and killed shortly after, many question whether he was put up to it and if he acted alone. Some theories suggest the involvement of a second gunman, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, or the Mafia, possibly retaliating against Kennedy’s increased regulations. The most popular theory, though, is that the CIA orchestrated the President’s assassination. This is a debate that has gone on for decades, and is sure to leave people scratching their heads for years to come.

One small step for man, one giant leap for the conspiracy theorists of the world. During the Cold War, Russia and the U.S. competed fiercely in a space race, leading some to believe that the moon landing was faked in order to outpace the Russians. One theory claims that filmmaker Stanley Kubrick directed the whole thing and made apparent errors, such as inconsistent lighting and waving flags, which are improbable in the vacuum of space. While scientists have debunked the major claims with logical explanations, up to 20% of Americans remain skeptical. If you’re looking to spark an interesting discussion at your next family dinner, this topic is sure to ruffle some feathers.

Which of these theories left you questioning everything? Let us know in the comments!