Fact check: Ellen DeGeneres is 'going blind'.
Verdict: false — Trust Score 15/100
This post is a complete fabrication refuted by 14 sources. While Kuru is a real medical condition historically linked to cannibalism, there is no evidence that Ellen DeGeneres has been diagnosed with it or is going blind. These claims are part of a recycled conspiracy theory that has been thoroughly debunked by medical experts and news organizations in 2026.

- Platform
- threads
- Source author
- j.mizzy215 — see all fact-checks of this account
- Original post
- https://www.threads.com/@j.mizzy215/post/DYxQ-W0lv97?xmt=AQG0Ut5wfjXz2lS9lXz148CqAKCGwqKbr0HpEsa8WxnFbOMosnyR2x8ba-l5sKfmy1qtvi__
- Verified on
- May 25, 2026
- Verification ID
- 6_SbrCoYGp3U_RKhh3to_Q
Original content reviewed
Platform: THREADS Author: @j.mizzy215 --- Caption/Description --- Whether in this Life or the next, remember Karma doesn't miss! 🎯 #Undefeated #ReapWhatYouSow --- On-Screen Text (OCR) --- ELLEN DEGENERES IS "GOING BLIND" AFTER BEING DIAGNOSED WITH KURU, THE DISEASE LINKED TO CANNIBALISM. @unfilteredr3ality ---VERIFICATION_SUMMARY--- Platform: THREADS Author: @j.mizzy215 --- Caption/Description --- Whether in this Life or the next, remember Karma doesn't miss! 🎯 #Undefeated #ReapWhatYouSow --- Visible Text/Media --- Text overlay stating Ellen DeGeneres is 'going blind' after being diagnosed with Kuru, a disease linked to cannibalism. Includes the watermark @unfilteredr3ality. --- Claims to Verify --- 1. Ellen DeGeneres is going blind. 2. Ellen DeGeneres has been diagnosed with Kuru. 3. Kuru is a disease linked to cannibalism. --- Verification Focus --- Kuru disease health risks NIH Kuru side effects FDA Kuru disease FDA warning Ellen DeGeneres Kuru diagnosis fact check Snopes Ellen DeGeneres going blind news
Claims analyzed (3)
- false: Ellen DeGeneres is 'going blind'.
Multiple fact-checks and news reports from May 2026 confirm that there is no medical evidence or official statement suggesting Ellen DeGeneres is losing her sight. The claim is a viral hoax. - false: Ellen DeGeneres has been diagnosed with Kuru.
DeGeneres has publicly disclosed diagnoses of osteoporosis, OCD, and ADHD, but has never been diagnosed with Kuru. The Kuru claim originated from a misinformation site using AI-generated audio. - verified: Kuru is a disease linked to cannibalism.
Medical authorities confirm Kuru is a rare, fatal prion disease caused by the consumption of infected human brain tissue, primarily documented in Papua New Guinea.
Sources consulted (21)
- soapcentral.com — soapcentral.com
- ibtimes.co.uk — ibtimes.co.uk
- primetimer.com — primetimer.com
- fox5atlanta.com — fox5atlanta.com
- independent.co.uk — independent.co.uk
- parade.com — parade.com
- ok.co.uk — ok.co.uk
- hindustantimes.com — hindustantimes.com
- npr.org — npr.org
- opposingviews.com — opposingviews.com
- snopes.com — snopes.com
- thepeoplesvoice.tv — thepeoplesvoice.tv
- ebsco.com — ebsco.com
- meaww.com — meaww.com
- Is Ellen DeGeneres going blind? Viral Kuru diagnosis claim tweet linked to cannibalism debunked — Primetimer
- Kuru - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf — NIH
- Kuru: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia — MedlinePlus
- Cannibalism: When People Ate People, A Strange Disease Emerged — NPR
- The Sunday Guardian: Sensational posts on social media — The Sunday Guardian
- Does Ellen DeGeneres Have Cannibalism-Linked Kuru Disease? — IBTimes UK
- Kuru - BrainFacts.org — BrainFacts.org
Related verifications
- Note: live web search was unavailable, so this is based on the model's existing knowledge… — Misleading 25/100threads · view post ↗
Note: live web search was unavailable, so this is based on the model's existing knowledge rather than real-time sources — re-verify for current or fast-moving claims. The video depicts various hand mu…
- Note: live web search was unavailable, so this is based on the model's existing knowledge… — Misleading 20/100threads · view post ↗
Note: live web search was unavailable, so this is based on the model's existing knowledge rather than real-time sources — re-verify for current or fast-moving claims. The post features a video demonst…
- Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, Iran’s second-highest leader, was killed in overnight US-Israel… — Misleading 25/100threads · view post ↗
The post falsely claims that Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, Iran’s second-highest leader, was killed in overnight US-Israel strikes on Tehran. While Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in such …
- A 24-year-old individual using an iPhone has uncovered more fraud than all government ove… — Misleading 25/100threads · view post ↗
The post claims a 24-year-old with an iPhone has uncovered more fraud than all government oversight organizations combined. This claim is misleading as there is no verifiable evidence to support such …
- A 24-year-old individual, using an iPhone, has uncovered more fraud than all government o… — False 25/100threads · view post ↗
The post claims that a 24-year-old individual, using an iPhone, has uncovered more fraud than all government oversight organizations combined. This claim is false, as there is no evidence to support s…
AI-generated analysis. Not a substitute for professional fact-checking.