There’s nothing like pulling off the most epic prank on April Fool’s Day because quite
frankly, everyone expects it already!
Even ad agencies join in on the fun to fool the most gullible consumers.
Whopper toothpaste, anyone?
But it’s all fun and games until someone gets seriously hurt, or worse, the government
unwittingly gets involved!
Today we’re counting down the 12 April Fools Pranks That Went Too Far!
What’s up fact-natics!
This is Discovery Amuse, serving up your daily dose of the most outrageous, outlandish, and
out-of-this-world fun facts!
Our top pick is one of the most elaborate gags of all time, that it actually took three
years to execute!
How did it end?
Stay tuned for that!
Now, send in the clowns!
#12: School Shooting Prank
There are a lot of things that cross the line between funny and just downright inappropriate,
like wearing blackface, making bomb jokes at the airport… or faking a darn school
shooting!
Angela Timmons is an employee at the Virginia College in South Carolina, who thought it
would be funny to pull a horrible joke on her daughter who was in New York at that time.
In 2014, Angela texted her daughter to say that she could hear gunfire from inside her
office and that she was hiding for dear life!
When the daughter didn’t receive any further replies from her mother, she called the police
to report the school shooting incident!
Angela’s twisted prank backfired when authorities raced to the school, only to discover that
it was nothing but a joke that blew out of proportion.
The punchline?
Angela was arrested on several charges, including aggravated breach of peace and disturbing
a school.
Keep watching because our number one entry is a cautionary tale for pranksters who just
don’t know when to stop!
#11: Element of Surprise
This DJ duo who must’ve been chemistry nerds back in the day proved to be too witty for
their own good.
In April Fool’s 2013, Florida morning radio show hosts Val St. John and Scott Fish thought
it was a funny idea to warn their listeners that a chemical called “dihydrogen monoxide”
was reportedly coming out of taps in the Fort Myers area!
And that consumption of this may lead to symptoms like sweating, urination, and prune-like skin!
Obviously, their listeners panicked so much that it led Lee County officials to issue
a statement that their water supply is safe to use!
The radio tandem was pulled off the air in the middle of their show and served indefinite
suspension.
Thankfully, the Florida health department didn’t pursue any felony charges.
If by now you haven’t figured out the gag, well, you might wanna consider going back
to middle school.
Because dihydrogen monoxide is simply the chemical formula for water!
#10: How to Get Away with Murder Jokes
I bet even Annaliese Keating wouldn’t be able to defend this lady who’s guilty of
having the worst sense of humor!
On April 1, 2013, Tennessee Susan Tammy Hudson had this brilliant idea for a practical joke
for her sister Helen.
Susan told her that she just killed her husband and asked Helen to help her hide the body!
Susan: “I said Helen, I shot my husband.
I’m cleaning up the mess, let’s go bury him in Blackwater.”
But word got around really fast, and the police turned up at her house in no time!
“And next thing I knew, there was law everywhere.
Their response was excellent.”
But the joke was on Susan because instead of bursting into laughter, the police handcuffed
her!
She was eventually released after her husband arrived home… very much alive!
#9: This Means War
April Fool’s Day tricks are supposed to bring laughter… not spark an actual war!
Unfortunately, one Israeli intelligence officer didn’t get the memo back in 1986, when he
planted a hoax that aired over Israel’s state-run radio station at that time.
The report said Lebanese Muslim leader Nabih Berri had been seriously injured or possibly
killed in an assassination attempt.
This announcement also aired on Lebanese radio stations, and flared up tensions between the
two countries!
Thankfully, the war was avoided after the report was confirmed to be false, forcing
a quick retraction and apologies from both sides.
See people, fake news can be very dangerous!
#8: A Titanic Mistake
Some radio hosts must think they’re the comedy king of the world.
But this one almost put his listeners in grave danger!
In 2001, radio host Tony Aldridge of Southern FM in Brighton announced that on April 1,
a full-size replica of the Titanic would be visible from the cliffs of Beachy Head, as
it sails along the Sussex Coast on its way to France.
The idea came after the DJ saw a rerun of the Titanic film on TV.
Hundreds of people fell victim to the hoax and braved the windy, treacherous cliff just
to catch a glimpse of the Titanic knock-off.
Spectators brought binoculars, and some even drove from as far as 40 miles away!
According to one report, some onlookers actually thought they were going to see the original
Titanic!
Obviously, they flunked their history class.
Anywho, the heavy weight from the crowd caused cracks on the cliff, with a part of it eventually
collapsing a few days later!
Thankfully, people have gone by the time it crumbled so no one was hurt, and the radio
station later apologized for their deception.
#7.
Fake Expectations
Seriously, who still falls for the pregnant joke on April Fool’s?
Ladies, it’s time to retire this insensitive prank once and for all.
Especially if you don’t wanna end up like this woman who went from “bun in the oven”
to “stab in the neck” real quick!
In 2013, Arizona teenager Toni Wheeler pranked her boyfriend, Derek Bauer, that she was pregnant.
But when Wheeler revealed the gag, Bauer got angry at his girlfriend.
Understandable.
However, Wheeler lost her temper too and pulled out a knife to threaten Bauer!
The crazy girlfriend cut him across the throat and bit him twice!
Woah, that escalated quickly!
Bauer was rushed to the hospital and had to get seven stitches on the neck, while Wheeler
was wheeled into the Wagoner County jail, where she was charged with assault.
#6.
Jailhouse Game Show
If there’s anything we can learn from this next story, it’s that you must think before
you tweet.
Especially if you’re in law enforcement!
In 2015, the Manchester Police received some serious backlash for a prank gone wrong.
At midnight of April Fool’s Day, the Twitter account of the Greater Manchester Police in
Radcliffe posted this:
What is this, a Black Mirror twist on Big brother or something?
Obviously, the tweet drew flak from locals, especially from the parents of some of the
inmates, so the authorities had to issue this apology tweet later that day.
Take it away, OneRepublic!
#5: Doomsday Prankster
We almost called this story: “How not to promote a planetarium show” but obviously
it’s too long and anti-climactic.
On March 31, 1940, a day before April Fools, the Franklin Institute wanted to announce
its new planetarium show featuring cosmic apocalypse in the most creative way possible.
And what better way to generate some buzz but to announce the end of the world!
So the institute’s spokesman William Castellini gave a press release to Philly radio station
KYW which stated that: “Your worst fears that the world will end are confirmed by astronomers
of Franklin Institute, Philadelphia.
Scientists predict that the world will end at 3 P.M.
Eastern Standard Time tomorrow.
This is no April Fool joke.
Confirmation can be obtained from Wagner Schlesinger, director of the Fels Planetarium.”
Too bad, instead of calling the planetarium, terrified residents phoned newspapers, police
stations and the local government!
KYW later issued an apology and Castellini was sacked for the PR nightmare.
I wonder if they had crisis managers back in the day.
#4.
What a Hoot!
Hell surely hath no fury like a waitress scorned!
Meet Jodee Berry, a waitress at Hooters in Florida, who became the victim of a nasty
corporate prank by her employer.
In 2001, the manager announced a contest for the month of April.
Whoever sells the most beer for that month would win a Toyota!
Being the competitive server that she is, Berry gave it her all to win the coveted prize.
However, when it was time to claim her Toyota, she was blindfolded and brought to the parking
lot, where this was waiting for her.
A Toy Yoda!
Get it?
#Savage!
Imagine putting in all those extra hours for a dumb action figure!
Berry got so pissed that she quit her job, and sued the corporate owner of Hooters--Gulf
Coast Wings.
She won the settlement for an undisclosed amount, and was eventually asked to pick out
whatever type of Toyota she wants!
Now that’s the real-life Revenge of the Sith!
#3.
Alien Invasion
Journalists are looked up to as the beacons of truth.
But that doesn’t mean they can’t have fun once in a while!
Al-Ghad, a Jordanian newspaper, ran a front-page article on April 1, 2010 saying that flying
saucers piloted by 10-foot-tall creatures landed near the town of Jafr, about 180 miles
from the capital.
It even went as far as to say that the UFO’s interrupted communication lines in the area,
and caused panic among residents.
Because of the fake headline, parents refused to send their kids to school that day, and
even Jafr’s mayor admitted to almost evacuating the town’s 13,000 residents!
He also had security authorities comb the city for extra-terrestrials!
After things died down, and the city was still alien-free, Al-Ghad apologized and said they
only meant to entertain, not scare people.
Good luck earning back their credibility though.
#2: The Bearer of Fake News
While we’re on the subject of broadcasters gone bad, here’s another one way back from
1980.
On that fateful April Fool’s Day, Massachusetts’ WNAC-TV ended its 6PM news with a bulletin
that warned people that the great Blue Hill was about to erupt!
They even rolled some old footage of Mt. St. Helens volcano in Washington, and aired an
edited remark from President Jimmy Carter to make it more convincing!
As soon as the news broke, some Milton residents began to flee their homes!
The Milton Police Department also received frantic calls from people asking if they need
to evacuate their houses!
However, at the end of the broadcast, the reporter held up a card that read “April
Fools!”
Not funny at all!
The TV station was forced to issue an apology in its 11 pm newscast, and the next day, the
executive producer that ran the prank was fired for quote-unquote “failure to exercise
good news judgment.”
Before we go to our number 1 pick, do us a solid and make sure to smash the subscribe
button and hit the notification bell!
Don’t forget to choose “all” so you won’t miss out on any of our latest life-changing,
boredom-busting content!
And of course, be sure to turn on notifications in your app’s settings!
#1: The Most Magma-nificent Prank Ever
On April 1, 1974, residents of Sitka, Alaska woke up to the sight of black smoke emanating
from the crater of Mount Edgecumbe!
As locals feared an impending eruption, the Coast Guard immediately flew over the volcano
to investigate.
As the chopper approached the source of the black smoke, the plume grew bigger and as
soon as they were over the crater, they looked down and saw… a stack of old tires burning
in the cone of the volcano!
Beside the flaming rubbers was a spray-painted 50-foot-high black lettering that spelled
“APRIL FOOL!”
But instead of getting crucified, Oliver "Porky" Bickar, the evil genius behind the epic joke,
was actually applauded for his elaborate prank.
Porky revealed that the idea came to him in 1971.
That’s when he started collecting 70 tires and kept them in an airplane hangar.
Three years later, when the visibility conditions were perfect for the prank, Porky decided
to pull the stunt with the help of some pilot friends.
He later disclosed that the Federal Aviation Administration and the local police were in
on the joke as they had to seek clearance.
The Coast Guard, however, was left out but ultimately, everyone had a “blast” from
the volcano prank!
Well played, Porky.
Well played.
So, what’s your own April Fool’s Day story?
Share them to us in the comments section below!
Take home any of our exclusive gear by browsing our merch shelf, or clicking the link in the
video description!
And while you’re at it, take our quiz to find out how you can earn extra cash online
doing what you do best!
Awesome, right!
As they say, what goes around, comes around!
So before you pull off any pranks, I highly suggest you check out first our list of the
10 Satisfying Times Karma Came for Awful People!
‘Til then, be a good sport, fact-natics!
And see you in the video!