Fact Check: Graham Platner's 'UFO Encounter' Video Goes Viral – Experts Confirm It’s AI-Generated
A sensational video claiming to show Graham Platner, a self-proclaimed paranormal investigator, capturing a 4K UFO landing in his backyard has racked up 12 million views on TikTok this week. The clip, which shows a glowing craft descending into a cornfield, was widely shared with captions like “alien proof at last.” However, multiple fact-checking organizations and digital forensics analysts have confirmed the footage is entirely AI-generated using a deep-learning algorithm, not genuine evidence. A reverse-image search revealed the background was sourced from a 2018 drone video of Iowa farms. Platner has since admitted in a deleted Instagram story that he created the hoax “to test how fast things spread without verification.” Experts urge viewers to remain skeptical of unverified viral clips.