By Zaharaddeen Ishaq Abubakar
Reports circulating on social media alleging that an American dolphin trainer named Jessica Radcliffe died after being attacked by a dolphin or orca during a performance have been confirmed as entirely false.
The claim, which first spread on TikTok and other platforms in late July 2025, alleged that “23-year-old Jessica Radcliffe” was killed during a show at a fictitious venue called Pacific Blue Marine Park. Some versions of the story even suggested the animal became aggressive due to menstrual blood in the water.
However, extensive investigations by international media outlets including The Economic Times, Hindustan Times, E! Online, and The Sun found no record of any woman by that name working as a marine mammal trainer in the United States or abroad. No government or credible news source has confirmed her existence.
“This is a clear example of a fabricated story created using AI technology,” E! Online reported, noting that the widely shared video showed tell-tale signs of digital manipulation, such as unnatural water movement, inconsistent lighting, and facial distortions.
According to a Hindustan Times fact-check seen by Katsina Times on August 7, 2025, both “Jessica Radcliffe” and “Pacific Blue Marine Park” are fictional. The images and video were generated using advanced AI tools.
While the Radcliffe story is false, fatal orca incidents have occurred in reality. In 2010, SeaWorld Orlando trainer Dawn Brancheau died after an orca named Tilikum dragged her underwater, as reported by the Orlando Sentinel. In 2009, Alexis Martínez was killed at Loro Parque in Tenerife, Spain, after being struck by an orca named Keto, according to BBC News.
Media experts warn that AI-generated hoaxes can spread rapidly because they combine realistic imagery with sensational narratives.
“The mix of lifelike visuals and dramatic storytelling makes these fakes go viral, but it erodes public trust in legitimate journalism,” media analyst Priya Nair told The Economic Times.
The Jessica Radcliffe hoax serves as a cautionary example, underscoring the need for social media users to verify stories with credible sources before sharing them.
