Get PolitiFact in your inbox.
JFK Jr. died over 20 years ago — he is not a QAnon leader
If Your Time is short
-
John F. Kennedy, Jr. died in a plane crash in 1999. He is not living, and is not working with QAnon.
Some conspiracy theorists have held the belief that John F. Kennedy, Jr., an attorney and the son of President John F. Kennedy, is alive and is working with the QAnon movement, which holds that Democrats and public figures are a part of a Satan-worshiping, pedophilic occult.
Baseless as it is, the theory is that Kennedy is undercover and acting as Q, the anonymous leader who for years posted cryptic messages to "out" Democrats and claimed to unveil a deep state plot against former President Donald Trump.
But there are changing stories about who Kennedy supposedly disguises himself as. A May 3 Facebook post said he’s masquerading as Juan O. Savin, a prominent promoter of the QAnon movement.
"JOHN & JUAN," the post says before enumerating all the ways it claims the two men are similar: "Both sit the same (cross legged). Same height. Same voice modality. Same age. Both publishers. Both aviators. Both masters of disguise. Both independently wealthy. Both well connected. Both know the LAW. John signed his name ‘Juan Kennedy’ when he was younger. HMMMMMM ‘Quriouser & Quriouser.’"
Facebook flagged the post in an effort to combat misinformation on its platform. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.)
Sign up for PolitiFact texts
In truth, it’s not that curious: Kennedy died more than 20 years ago.
He was flying a plane along with his wife and sister-in-law in 1999 when it crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near Martha’s Vineyard. Kennedy, along with his wife Carolyn Bessette, were cremated and buried at sea. In November 2021, undeterred by Kennedy’s confirmed death, hundreds of QAnon supporters gathered in Dallas under the false belief that he would return before eventually trickling away when he did not.
Featured Fact-check
Some QAnon believers claim that Kennedy had similar facial features to Savin. Vice reported that a book published under Savin’s name disclosed that his real name is Wayne Willott. Savin made a rare public appearance at a QAnon conference called For God And Country Patriot Double Down, where he made claims of a globalist plan to depopulate the earth.
We’ve fact checked similar claims and found no evidence to support it. Nor is there evidence that Savin is secretly John F. Kennedy, Jr. We rate this Pants on Fire!
Our Sources
PolitiFact, No, JFK Jr. isn’t alive (or behind anonymous QAnon messages), March 25, 2022
PolitiFact, What is QAnon, the baseless conspiracy spilling into US politics?, Aug. 27, 2020
Facebook post, May 3, 2022
History, JFK Jr. killed in plane crash, accessed May 4, 2022
The New York Times, The Kennedy Burial: THE OVERVIEW; A Private Ceremony at Sea For the 3 on the Kennedy Plane, July 23, 1999
The Netline, Who is Juan O Savin? His real name is Wayne Willott, Oct. 25, 2022
Twitter post, Oct. 24, 2021
The Daily Beast, Jim Caviezel’s QAnon Guru Wants to Control Elections, Oct. 27, 2021
PolitiFact, No, Bill Gates did not outline 2018 plan to depopulate the planet, May 3, 2018
Browse the Truth-O-Meter
More by Gabrielle Settles
JFK Jr. died over 20 years ago — he is not a QAnon leader
Support independent fact-checking.
Become a member!
In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts.