Recently, a strange rumor spread over social media. Finding that out, people began to say that the haunted Annabelle doll had somehow gone missing. But this provoked panic among horror movie fans and ghost story fans. Known for real-life spooky events and the Conjuring movies, the doll is.
On TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook, people posted that Annabelle had gotten out of her glass case at the Warren Occult Museum. And, in fact, some even joked she was on the loose in Chicago. None of everything they had ever told me was true.
What Happened
But the truth came quickly. New England Society for Psychic Research lead investigator Dan Rivera shared the video on TikTok. In it, he showed the doll in its wooden case at the museum. ‘Annabelle is not missing,’ he said. The former billionaire and his wife are safe, sound, and here at the museum,” she said in an interview, speaking of her boss.
The museum also took to the Internet to stop the rumor. ‘It’s a rumor…’ they wrote. You have NOT stolen Annabelle. ‘The Warren Occult Museum and she is safely there.”
Where Did the Rumor Come From?
A U.S. haunted exhibition called “Devils on the Run” was the reason the false news started. A few people thought that the actual Annabelle doll was being brought for the show. Being the exhibition traveled from one state to another, fans believed the doll ran away during one of the trips.
The truth is that the doll used in the show was a copy. Annabelle, who never left the museum.
Why Is Annabelle So Famous?
This is not just any doll. In the 1970s, she became famous after the case was investigated by ghost hunters Ed and Lorraine Warren. It was said that the doll, a silly Raggedy Ann, was possessed by an evil spirit. The Warrens said Annabelle moved by herself and wrote scary notes.
Ever since she appeared in the Conjuring franchise and landed her films, her story has become even more popular. This is why people the world over consider her a haunted object. Therefore, when people hear rumors about her, they get people’s attention quickly.
Not the First Time
It’s not the first time people have thought Annabelle disappeared. The same rumor went around in 2020. At the time, Tony Spera, the Warrens’ son-in-law, posted a video putting people at ease. Annabelle was still in her case, and he joked that she didn’t go on a trip or see anyone. She’d never left the museum, he said.
Tony also warned viewers not to make light of Annabelle. She’s not something to play with, he said.
The Dangers of Fake News
The Annabelle rumor, essentially, is a prime example of how fast fake news spreads on the internet. If people don’t check the facts, one small idea can become a big scare. It took just a few hours, and millions of users had seen and shared the false story.
It also reminds me of how careful I should be in what I believe online. Not every exciting or scary post is true. Worrying or spreading news without fact checking doesn’t sound bad though.
All Is Well
The haunted Annabelle doll is still in her glass case at the Warren Occult Museum. She was never missing. The panic was caused by a rumor that spread too quickly. Thanks to the museum staff and investigators, the truth was shared before things got worse.
Annabelle may be creepy in movies, but in real life, she hasn’t gone anywhere. So, fans of horror stories can rest easy—she’s right where she’s supposed to be.
