artificial intelligence
The claim: A satanic hotel is opening in Texas
A March 11 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) includes a video with images showing eerie-looking rooms with red-and-black motifs.
“This is a satanic hotel located in Plano,Texas this brand new hotel will open June 6 at 6pm – 666 (sic),” reads the caption on the post.
It was shared more than 50 times in four days. Another version of the claim was shared more than 400 times on Twitter.
Follow us on Facebook! Like our page to get updates throughout the day on our latest debunks
Our rating: False
A city official said there is no such hotel in Plano. An online clothing brand said it made the images using artificial intelligence to present potential business concepts on Instagram.
Images made with artificial intelligence technology
No such plans are underway in the north Texas city.
“There is no ‘Satanic-themed hotel’ operating in our city,” Plano spokesperson Steve Stoler said.
Ink Poisoning, a clothing brand, said the images showed “AI concept work by us” in a Feb. 22 Instagram post that described the setting as “Hotel Hell.”
The brand made similar images using artificial intelligence for a subsequent Instagram post set at a satanic lounge concept that was “opening at 6 pm on the 6th of the 6th month of the year.”
The brand did not respond to USA TODAY’s request for further comment on the images.
Fact check: ‘After School Satan Club’ meeting at Illinois elementary school
USA TODAY has previously debunked claims that a Disney movie encouraged children to explore Satanism, the Ad Council warned marijuana is the “leading cause of America’s youth joining satanic cults” and that a video showed a satanic ritual near the G7 summit.
USA TODAY reached out to users who shared the claim for comment.
Reuters also debunked the claim.
Our fact-check sources:
- Steve Stoler, March 15, Email exchange with USA TODAY
- Ink Poisoning, March 4, Instagram post
- The Dallas Observer, Feb. 28, The Satanic Hotel in Plano Was Just a Joke That Got Out of Control
- Ink Poisoning, Feb. 22, Instagram post
- Reuters, March 10, Fact Check-Images of satanic-themed hotel are AI art; they do not show a business opening in Texas
Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here.
Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.
Comments