The internet is convinced aliens appeared at a mall in Miami
Folks, if aliens ever do make their presence known on Earth, I think it is wildly safe to assume the extraterrestrials capable of interstellar travel wouldn't pop-up at a Miami strip mall. And yet, that's what the internet convinced itself this week.
Earlier this week — on New Year's Day — there was a brawl at Bayfront Marketplace in Miami. Teens reportedly lit fireworks, which sparked a fight and a bit of chaos as some folks seemed to assume there was a shooting. Four people were arrested after dozens of police cars rushed to the scene.
Somehow, this turned into people speculating there were aliens...at...the mall. This TikTok from @jackmacbarstool walks through the conspiracy, though perhaps providing with a bit too much credence.
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The whole conspiracy started, it seems, on the back of two ideas. One: That the police presence was too heavy for a simple fight. And two: A video that people said showed a looming, massive figure.
The large police presence is pretty easy to explain. This is America and, unfortunately, we have mass shootings in public places all the time. If there was panic-ridden scene, fights, and loud bangs, it makes sense that all the police in the area would rush to the scene.
As for the big "aliens" in the videos. They're not alien shadow people. They're just shadows, people.
"What is seen on this clip is the shadow of someone walking," a Miami police spokesperson told TMZ. "If you look at the bottom of the shadow, you can see the person. No creature."
But this is the internet, and once people latch onto something, it becomes A Thing. There were lots of conspiracy theorists on TikTok and X (Twitter) claiming it was everything from an alien invasion to a Biblical event. There were also lots of jokes about how ridiculous it all was.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
So no, aliens did not invade a Miami mall. But the internet can and will believe anything.
Topics Viral Videos
Tim Marcin is an Associate Editor on the culture team at Mashable, where he mostly digs into the weird parts of the internet. You'll also see some coverage of memes, tech, sports, trends, and the occasional hot take. You can find him on Bluesky (sometimes), Instagram (infrequently), or eating Buffalo wings (as often as possible).
