Short summary: Social media posts that attribute the phrase "I see the world being corrupted by gayness" to Paul McCartney, J.K. Rowling, Mick Jagger and Steven Tyler are fabricated. A coordinated spam operation used AI-generated text and fake fan pages to paste the quote onto images of these celebrities and promote the posts to Western audiences. Searches of verified accounts found no such statements. Exercise caution and verify sources before sharing similar posts.
Fake Quote Alert: McCartney, J.K. Rowling, Mick Jagger and Steven Tyler Did NOT Say "I See the World Being Corrupted by Gayness"
Short summary: Social media posts that attribute the phrase "I see the world being corrupted by gayness" to Paul McCartney, J.K. Rowling, Mick Jagger and Steven Tyler are fabricated. A coordinated spam operation used AI-generated text and fake fan pages to paste the quote onto images of these celebrities and promote the posts to Western audiences. Searches of verified accounts found no such statements. Exercise caution and verify sources before sharing similar posts.
07:48 PM, 11/19/2025Society
Verdict: The claim that Sir Paul McCartney, J.K. Rowling, Mick Jagger or Steven Tyler wrote or said "I see the world being corrupted by gayness" about Paralympic sprinter Valentina Petrillo is false. The phrase was fabricated and pasted onto images and social posts using those celebrities' names and likenesses.
The claim
Social media posts circulated screenshots and captions purporting to show well-known celebrities publicly criticizing Valentina Petrillo, an Italian Paralympic sprinter who competed in the Paris 2024 Games. One widely shared example, dated November 17, 2025, attached the line "I see the world being corrupted by gayness" to a post attributed to Paul McCartney and suggested similar statements came from J.K. Rowling, Mick Jagger and Steven Tyler.
What we checked
We searched verified social accounts and public statements from the named celebrities for references to "Valentina," "gayness," or similar language. No verified posts, statements, or reputable news coverage supports the quote being authentic for any of the four people named.
How the false quote spread
Investigations show these fabricated posts were produced as part of a coordinated spam operation that repackaged the same wording and visuals across multiple fake fan pages. The operation relied on AI-generated copy and cloned or bogus social pages to amplify the content to English-speaking audiences in North America and Europe.
Why this matters
Attaching offensive or inflammatory quotes to well-known public figures is a common tactic to generate clicks, shares and outrage. These tactics can harm reputations and distort public conversation around sensitive issues such as transgender athletes and sport classification.
How to spot similar fakes
- Check the celebrity's verified account for the post or statement.
- Look for identical wording or imagery across multiple pages — coordinated reuse is a red flag.
- Be cautious of posts from newly created fan pages or profiles with little history or engagement.
- Search reputable fact-checking or news sites for confirmation before sharing.
If in doubt, pause before sharing: a quick verification can prevent amplification of harmful misinformation.
Context: The posts targeted Valentina Petrillo — a Paralympic athlete who earned medals in the women's T12 200m and 400m at the Paris 2024 Paralympics — and falsely portrayed public figures as attacking her. There is no evidence the quoted language originated from any verified account of McCartney, Rowling, Jagger or Tyler.