Fact check: Jessica Radcliffe was not killed by an orca; video is digitally manipulated

A viral video showing an orca attacking a marine trainer named Jessica Radcliffe has sparked widespread alarm across social media. Many viewers believed the footage depicted a tragic fatal attack during a live performance. However, thorough fact-checking reveals the story is entirely false.

Jessica Radcliffe appears to be a fictional character created to lend credibility to the video. There is no official record of a trainer by that name, nor has any recent orca attack resulting in death been reported by credible news outlets.

Experts have confirmed that the viral clip is a sophisticated digital manipulation, combining unrelated older footage with AI-generated sounds and staged captions to simulate a realistic but fabricated incident. The crowd noises and dramatic audio were also artificially created to heighten the emotional impact.

This case highlights how advanced technology like AI can be misused to spread false and sensational content, especially on emotionally charged topics such as animal attacks. Viewers are urged to verify such shocking claims before sharing them further.