FACT CHECK: Does This Image Show Taylor Swift Wearing A ‘Human Flesh Hat’?

Brad Sylvester | Fact Check Editor

An image shared on Facebook purportedly shows musician Taylor Swift wearing a “human flesh hat.”

Verdict: False

There is no evidence Swift is pictured. The image shows an Australian special effects artist modeling one of her pieces, according to her co-creator.

Fact Check:

The image shows a woman wearing a hat that appears to contains at least three faces stitched together. One of the Facebook accounts that shared the image commented, “Taylor Swift’s human flesh hat,” seemingly suggesting Swift is pictured in the photo.

While the woman bears a slight resemblance to the popular singer-songwriter in the image, there is no evidence Swift is modeling the hat. The picture does not appear on Swift’s verified Facebook, Twitter or Instagram accounts. There are also no news reports about the singer donning the hat.

A reverse image search revealed the image has been shared on the internet for several years. In some instances, the hat is credited to Kayla Arena and Toby Barron, two Australia-based special effects artists. (RELATED: Does This Photo Show A Human Face From A ‘Cannibal Meat Market’?)

“I can confirm it is not Taylor Swift,” said Barron in an email to Check Your Fact. “It would certainly be a boost to sales if it was. The artist and model is Kayla Arena over at butterflyfxstudios.com.”

The photo in question can indeed be found on the Butterfly Fx Studios website, where the hat is described as “ED Gein inspired.” Ed Gein was an American serial killer who used skin and body parts to make furniture and clothing, according to History.com.

Arena, who can be seen modeling various special effects pieces on her Instagram, posted the image of the hat on her Facebook page in October 2016. In that October 2016 post, the caption states “all detail is hand made and designed in Queensland Australia by Kayla Arena and Toby Barron.”

Arena did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication.

Brad Sylvester

Fact Check Editor
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