On Sept. 16, 2023, the purported celebrity gossip YouTube channel Binge Pop published a video that claimed Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks had revealed entertainment icon Oprah Winfrey's "true plan" in having "orchestrated" the Maui wildfires that scorched parts of the Hawaiian island just weeks before.
The clip's title read, "Tom Hanks Reveals Oprah's True Plan Behind the Maui Fires."
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The video was viewed just over 21,000 times on YouTube. A repost of the same video on TikTok also earned nearly 600,000 views in four days.
This clip's narration, scripting, sequencing and thumbnail image all looked to have been a product of artificial intelligence (AI), video-creation tools.
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The video (archived) began as follows:
AI-GENERATED NARRATOR VOICE: In recent days, Oprah Winfrey has been facing a series of significant developments that hint at a hidden narrative unfolding beneath the surface. Adding to these revelations, Tom Hanks has stepped forward to shed light on Oprah's genuine motivations and the undisclosed agenda behind the Maui fires. The information is quite astonishing, so prepare yourself as we delve into the details in the following video.
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Speculation has arisen about a potential connection between Tom Hanks and Oprah Winfrey in regards to questionable activities transpiring in Maui. As the residents of Maui wake up to yet another day of devastation caused by the devastating wildfire, which has tragically claimed lives and displaced...
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