Fact Check: Audio meme based on horror video game shared as Titanic sub recording
Audio heard in online posts claiming that it is from Titan sub originated in a 2020 fan-made video
(Reuters) - An audio clip shared online as sounds coming from inside the Titanic submersible that imploded in June 2023 is taken from a fan-made clip, based on a horror video game, that became a popular meme in 2021.
“Michael, don’t leave me here” and “help me” can be heard in recent social media posts featuring the audio clip along with an image of the Titan sub with the caption, “The audio of the noises from the missing Titanic submarine”.
The Titan submersible belonging to OceanGate Expeditions lost contact with its ship on June 18 during a deep-sea dive to the Titanic wreckage with five passengers on board and no further contact was reported during a multinational search and rescue effort led by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). The discovery of a debris field on the sea floor announced on June 22 led the USCG to conclude the sub had suffered a “catastrophic implosion,” with no survivors.
— Kokobaiye Abeki (@Cartel_Chief) June 23, 2023
On June 28, salvaged pieces of the submersible were brought ashore in Newfoundland, Canada, Reuters reported citing the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
A search for “Michael don’t leave me here” leads to a 2020 YouTube video created by account Squimpus McGrimpus (here). The audio at the 2:41 timestamp is identical to the clip shared on social media.
The YouTube clip titled “Finale” is part of a fan-made analog horror video series based on survival horror video game series Five Nights at Freddy’s (fivenightsatfreddys3.com/), (here), the first of which was released in 2014.
The sound effect gained popularity in 2021 and inspired visual memes based on the audio, according to Know Your Meme, a website that documents online memes.
Examples of visual interpretations of the sound effect can be seen in the original video. The Five Nights at Freddy’s game has recently been made into a movie by Universal Pictures.
Based on the description of the original fan-made clip posted by Squimpus McGrimpus, the voice acting was done by “theniftytable,” a stage name used by voice actor Nolan David (twitter.com/theniftytable).
David did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
OceanGate Expeditions declined to comment.
VERDICT
False. The audio heard in online posts claiming that it is from the Titan sub originated in a 2020 fan-made video based on a video game series.
