A shocking video claiming that an orca whale killed a marine trainer named Jessica Radcliffe has gone viral on TikTok and other platforms. However, fact-checkers confirm the video is fake and likely AI-generated, with no credible evidence that such a person or incident exists.
The disturbing clip shows a killer whale with a bloodied mouth attacking a woman during a supposed marine show, with captions like “Justice for Jessica” and “The final smile before horror.” It has been widely circulated on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, prompting confusion and concern.
No Evidence of a Real Person or Attack
Multiple fact-checking sources, including International Business Times, Forbes, LiveMint, and Vocal Media, have debunked the video as a hoax. A search for credible news reports, OSHA records, or official statements revealed no marine trainer named Jessica Radcliffe, nor any reported orca attack matching the video’s details.
“No evidence exists that Jessica Radcliffe is a real person, let alone the victim of a fatal orca attack,” Vocal Media stated.
Real Incident Recalled: Dawn Brancheau
The fake video may be inspired by a real tragedy from 2010, when SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau was killed by an orca named Tilikum. The well-documented incident gained global attention and was later featured in the documentary Blackfish.
In that case, Brancheau was pulled into the water and drowned during a training session, leading to increased scrutiny of marine park safety practices.
