What is the Mandela Effect and Does It Happen to You?

What is the Mandela Effect? Before I answer that question, let me ask you another one. Remember that famous scene from Empire Strikes Back when Darth Vader says "Luke, I am your father"? I'm sure you think you do, but that is actually an example of the Mandela Effect.

The Mandela Effect has been described as a collective misremembering of a fact or event. The example above is perfect. Most folks think/know that Darth Vader says "Luke, I am your father." What Mr. Vader actually says is "No, I am your father." Sure, it's a small difference, but a majority of the public is just positive that he says "Luke".

Here's another example from the movies...and I admit I was wrong about this one. Remember the scene in Silence Of The Lambs when Agent Starling first meets Dr. Lector and he says that famous line "Hello Clarice"? Pysche! He never actually says that, but somewhere along the line we have convinced ourselves that that is the line.

But why call it the Mandela Effect? The name came from a paranormal consultant named Fiona Broome. She, along with a portion of the public, were just sure that Nelson Mandela died while he was in a South African prison. The truth is he survived his time in prison and went on to live for many, many more years. Mandela didn't die until 2013.

One more...perhaps one of the oldest examples. The evil queen/witch in Snow White never actually says "Mirror, mirror on the wall." Buzzfeed gives some other examples. Can you think of any more?

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