Don't worry, Internet: This viral video is indeed fake.
A short clip released on Friday of a spider crawling out of a man's ear, stopping and then sliding back in garnered a lot attention on the Internet last weekend. But it's just a great use of special effects from Bruce Branit of BranitFX and Lucamax Pictures.
[seealso slug="bobcat-eating-a-shark"]
In a short blog post linked in the YouTube comments, Branit explained that he went swimming at Lake of the Ozarks, and ended up with a bad ear infection. However, if you scroll further, Branit explains that he did have an ear infection, but the spider was completely fake. After all, his company is a visual effects company.
"Okay. So, yeah. I don't really have a spider in my ear," Branit wrote on his website. "I did have a hell-of-a case of swimmers ear and that was the inspiration."
Unfortunately, that didn't stop a number of media outlets from covering the video as a genuine spider. Branit didn't link his blog post, which was published on Saturday, until early Monday morning, however, his Facebook page, which is linked in the about section of his YouTube page describes his company as one that "produces high-end CGI for television, film and commercials".
Mashable has reached out to Branit for additional information and comment, however he was not immediately available.
I would not call it a hoax. More a clever demonstration of my skills! https://t.co/Xv76G4mF7d— Bruce Branit (@branitfx) June 1, 2015
Don't sleep too easy, though -- spiders have crawled into people's ear canals before.