Synopsis: Each month, The Straits Times examines the ins and outs of pop culture in the Asian entertainment and Hollywood scene.

Is Canadian pop star Avril Lavigne dead? Are One Direction members Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson in a secret relationship? Has Chinese actor Zhang Zhehan been replaced by a body double?

In this #PopVultures episode, tumble down host Jan Lee's favourite pop culture rabbit hole - bizarre fandom conspiracy theories.

Highlights (tap/click above):

3:25 Examining pop culture conspiracy theories such as the Avril-is-dead conspiracy theory

7:52 What is shipping and why has it contributed to fandom conspiracy theories?

10:48 The Larry Stylinson ship and how it led to the Larry's-baby-is-fake conspiracy theory

19:19 The fake-Zhang Zhehan conspiracy theory

35:34 Thoughts on why fandom conspiracy theories gain traction - how it ties into social media and para-social relationships

42:44 Deepfake technology and how it breeds distrust

47:28 Final thoughts

Produced by: Jan Lee (janlee@sph.com.sg), Penelope Lee & Eden Soh

Edited by: Penelope Lee

Follow #PopVultures Podcast episodes here every month:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWad

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaA

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaP

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/Ju47

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

Follow Jan Lee on Instagram: https://str.sg/Jbxc

Read Jan Lee's stories: https://str.sg/Jbxp

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Discover ST's special edition podcasts:

Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2

Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB

Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn

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Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

SG Extra: https://str.sg/wukR

ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL

Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

#PV

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