Crabzilla hoax

Crabzilla is a 2014 internet hoax revolving around two digitally manipulated images that appear to feature a giant crab lurking off the coast of Whitstable, Kent. Introduced in 2013, the images were originally published on the local folklore art website Weird Whitstable, where they were presented as factual; however, they were later revealed to have been created by the website's owner, Quinton Winter.[1] They quickly spread through British and international media outlets, prompting widespread speculation and viral attention.[2] Sea-life experts, graphic designers, and fact-checking publications later identified the satellite image as edited, raising suspicion of complete falsification.[3][4][5] The hoax's creator, Quinton Winter, confirmed its hoax status through an interview with Kent Online.[6]

History

The earliest known appearance of Crabzilla dates to 2013, on the local folklore website Weird Whitstable, where it was presented as a real aerial shot of the coast of Whitstable.[7] The site, created by illustrator Quinton Winter, regularly published stories of fictional and exaggerated coastal creatures around the Whitstable area. The second image of Crabzilla was released on July 21 of the same year, depicting children playing on a dock above water, where a large crab is shown beneath them.[8]

Virality and skepticism

In 2014, both images were picked up by British and international tabloids along with other outlets. The term "Crabzilla' was coined in news coverage.[9] HuffPost parodically framed the image, presenting it as false.[10] Journalist Samantha Payne covered it for International Business Times in a more sensational manner.[11] The photograph soon spread rapidly across social media. Additionally, it was reportedly covered in series 48, episode 3 of the British television panel show Have I Got News For You.[12] The renewed attention prompted Kent-based graphic designer Ashley Austen to question the image, stating that it could be 'quite easily recreated in Photoshop'.[4] Sea-life expert, Dr. Verity Nye, discredited the image's validity, deeming it a hoax.

Finally, on October 16, 2014, Quinton Winter confirmed the hoax status of the image through an interview with Kent Online.[6][13] He described the image as 'a bit of fun', mentioning it was not intended to achieve virality. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation linked the hoax's popularity to internet clickbait, criticizing the media's reportage of the aerial image.[14]

Explanation

According to The Independent, the aerial image was created by digitally expanding a shore crab and compositing it onto satellite imagery of Whitstable, taken from Bing Maps.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Crabzilla". Museum of Hoaxes. Retrieved 2026-02-12.
  2. ↑ Thomas, Emma (2014-10-19). "Children 'CATCH CRABZILLA' Is this picture proof of the GIANT crab?". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 2026-02-12.
  3. 1 2 "Five reasons 'Crabzilla' is definitely not real". The Independent. 2014-10-15. Retrieved 2026-02-12.
  4. 1 2 "Crabzilla 'spotted' in Whitstable". Kent Online. 2014-10-12. Retrieved 2026-02-12.
  5. ↑ Mikkelson, David (2014-10-13). "Was a 50-Foot Crab Spotted in England?". Snopes. Retrieved 2026-02-12.
  6. 1 2 "Revealed: Man behind 50ft 'Crabzilla'". Kent Online. 2014-10-16. Retrieved 2026-02-12.
  7. ↑ "PH 6". www.weirdwhitstable.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2018-11-10. Retrieved 2026-02-12.
  8. ↑ Q (2013-07-21). "Weird Whitstable: Giant crab!". Weird Whitstable. Retrieved 2026-02-12.
  9. ↑ "'Crabzilla' doesn't scare off two curious boys - The Korea Times". www.koreatimes.co.kr. 2014-10-25. Retrieved 2026-02-12.
  10. ↑ "Save Yourselves, Crabzilla Has Arrived In Whitstable". HuffPost UK. 2014-10-13. Archived from the original on 2024-10-04. Retrieved 2026-02-12.
  11. ↑ Payne, Samantha (2014-10-13). "Crabzilla or Bizarre Sand Formation? 'Giant Crustacean' Snapped at Whitstable Harbour". International Business Times UK. Retrieved 2026-02-12.
  12. ↑ "Weird Whitstable - About". www.weirdwhitstable.co.uk. Retrieved 2026-02-12.
  13. ↑ Blank, Brian (2014-10-17). "The truth about Crabzilla". Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog. Retrieved 2026-02-12.
  14. ↑ "When clickbait looks fishy". Media Watch. 2014-10-27. Retrieved 2026-02-12.
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