A series of images shared on Facebook purport to show a satanic bear that is available to make at Build-A-Bear.

Verdict: False

No such bear appears on Build-A-Bear’s website. Politifact labeled the claim as false via an April 9 article.

Fact Check:

Build-A-Bear is planning to open “at least 50 new stores by the end of the year globally,” according to Chain Store Age. In addition to its plans for expansion, the retailer recently named Rosalind Johnson its foundation board president, The Toy Book.com reported.

“These stores are getting carried away with the times!” the Facebook post’s caption reads in part. The post includes a series of images of a “Baphomet Bear” that is purportedly available to make at Build-A-Bear. The bear is black with horns and features a pentagram logo.

The claim is false. Check Your Fact conducted a search of Build-A-Bear’s website and no such bear appears. There is, however, a red teddy bear featuring horns called the “devilishly cute teddy bear” that is available for purchase. A description of the bear indicates it can be purchased as a Valentine’s Day gift. The bear is also available in “giant” and “wristie” versions. In addition, Build-A-Bear has not publicly referenced the purported “Baphomet Bear” on its associated social media accounts. (RELATED: Image Of Satanic Happy Meal Is AI-Generated)

Likewise, Check Your Fact did not find any credible news reports to support the claim. Actually, the opposite is true. Politifact labeled the claim as false via an April 9 article. In the article, originally written in Spanish, the outlet reported it traced the photos of the “Baphomet Bear” back to a Facebook page called “The Pumpkin Empress.” A Mar. 27 post shared via the page features the same series of images of the “Baphomet Bear.”

According to Politifact, the images have been generated with artificial intelligence (AI). Check Your Fact performed a content detection scan via “Hive Moderation” using one of the images and the results show it is 99% likely to have been generated with AI.

Screenshot captured via Hive Moderation

Check Your Fact has contacted Build-A-Bear for comment and will update this piece accordingly if one is received.