The Internet Is Convinced It’s Seen A Sinbad Movie That Never Existed
According to the internet, Sinbad starred in a movie about genie called “Shazaam,” except, he didn’t
As if 2016 hasn’t been bad enough, we need a new Sinbad movie?
Some people must be gluttons for punishment because they’re trying to make a tough year even worse by willing a bogus movie starring comedian Sinbad into existence.
The claim, that Sinbad, aka David Adkins, a less-than-revered comedian who had his own wishes granted with a little bit of fame and success in the late 80s and 90s, starred as a genie in a film called “Shazaam” has already been debunked by the rumor-debunking database Snopes.
But thousands still seem to believe it. With a little help from a photo-shopped image of a VHS tape of the movie, the rumor has somehow solidified into reality within the dubious confines of the world wide web, where, as 2016’s fake news epidemic has shown us, anything goes. First, the election is influenced by credulous belief in dubious news sources, now the public is falling prey to an insidious lie about a has-been comedian’s career!
While this is the first time Sinbad has been the beneficiary of the internet’s gullibility (but not the real world’s – dude used to sell out shows!) the phenomenon itself is not new. It’s known as “the Mandela effect” and, according to this article on Buzzfeed that lists 20 popular examples, it’s “what the internet is calling those curious instances in which many of us are certain we remember something a particular way, but it turns out we’re incorrect.”
It got the name from a widespread remembrance that Nelson Mandela had died in prison in the 80s, when, in fact, he lived another few decades (he actually died in December 2013) and eventually saw his release. Most of the examples are far less significant, revolving less around impactful historical figures and more around stupid pop culture artifacts.
Look, I know you’re not crazy. Just because you remember a movie that doesn’t exist doesn’t mean you’re insane. I know this because I’m not insane, and I REMEMBER THE MOVIE TOO. At the very least I remember Sinbad dressed like that in a movie. And I know it’s true because there is no way I would make up something so hateful.
Why would I punish myself with the fantasy of a movie in which goddamn Sinbad plays a goddamn genie? It sounds like the worst thing of all time, real or not. I hate myself but I don’t hate myself that much. I don’t even like the movie where Robin Williams plays a genie!
Clearly, this is a conspiracy. Someone wants us to fill our brains with memories of bogus terrible movies from the 90s, as if we didn’t already have Shaq’s entire IMDB page to fit that bill. Is 2016 over yet?
