Recent social media posts have sparked widespread discussion about an alleged “Sunburn Competition” in New Orleans, described as a satirical event where participants showcase their sunburn patterns for prizes.
However, thorough investigations have found no evidence of such an event, suggesting the story is a hoax fueled by misinformation and AI-generated images.
Similar claims about a Florida version of the event were debunked by Reuters and Yahoo News, both of which confirmed that the New Orleans version is also fabricated, with visuals linked to AI sources.
The official New Orleans tourism website lists no such event, and local outlets report nothing.
Health experts warn against promoting sunburns due to skin cancer risks.