Even celebrities can fall prey to the classic hoaxes and tall tales that circulate at slumber parties or within families as pranks. Glen Powell has recently been the butt of such a scenario. His culpability or naivety in this remains ambiguous, but what we do know is that for years he’s unwittingly circulated an urban legend about cannibalism. Has this made Glen Powell seem oddly more endearing and approachable?
The moment of truth arrived for Powell’s horror dating tale when he shared it on the Therapuss podcast with TikTok personality Jake Shane in May. His retelling concerned a friend of his sister, who, after feeling uneasy during a date and experiencing a massaging session that set off alarm bells, visited a doctor for her itchy skin only to learn she had been subjected to “black market lotion that breaks down skin for human consumption.” A resulting police investigation supposedly uncovered multiple bodies at the man’s home. Powell conveyed the narrative with certainty, though admitted, “I gotta get all my facts on this story. I’m gonna tell you this story, and then I’m gonna let my sister fact check it.”
The reality of this story doesn’t require sisterly verification, as the Internet has taken on that responsibility. When the video clip started spreading in early June, online detectives quickly referred to Snopes for answers. The renowned fact-checking website confirmed that variations of this story had been circulating the web for over two decades. What started as a hookup narrative involving necrophilia morphed into the cannibalistic iteration Powell repeated. Snopes clarified that there isn’t a shred of truth to any variant of the narrative; it’s all a cautionary urban legend warning against the dangers of being too trusting of strangers.
It’s unclear who first misled Glen Powell or whether the misinformation stemmed from a deliberate act by his sister, her friend, or from the collective retelling that propagated the myth. The star of Hit Man graciously took responsibility for perpetuating the disinformation, sharing BuzzFeed’s exposé via his Twitter/X account. “Props to my little sister’s friend who told her this dating story…I’ve been telling this for years. I’m questioning my whole life now…” he joked. “False alarm. Back rubs are back.”
FAQs about Celebrities and Urban Legends
Can celebrities be tricked by urban legends?
Yes, celebrities are human and can be fooled by urban legends just like anyone else. Their status doesn’t make them immune to hoaxes or tall tales.
Did Glen Powell really believe in a cannibal urban legend?
It appears that Glen Powell did believe and share a cannibalistic urban legend that he received from his sister’s friend, thinking it was true.
What is the true origin of the story Glen Powell shared?
The story Powell shared has been a known urban legend for over twenty years. Snopes has tracked various versions of this story, none of which have been based on factual events.
How did Glen Powell react when he found out the story was not true?
Once he realized the story was false, Glen Powell owned up to his error in spreading an urban legend on social media with a lighthearted response.
Are there any real cases related to the legend that Glen Powell mentioned?
No. The legend is considered a cautionary tale with no basis in actual events, designed to warn about the dangers of intimacy with strangers.