Skepticism

Ashton Kutcher is a skeptic?

Okay, stay with me here. Yes, Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore both buy into that Kabbalah stuff where they think that tying ratty pieces of string around their wrists will ward off evil spirits or whatever. But! Check out what Ashton is up to these days:

Pop Fiction, an eight-episode series, is a prank show targeting paparazzi and gullible media outlets. It’s made with the eager help of stars, who were the laughing stocks of Kutcher’s former MTV show. This time the shoe’s on the other foot, and the series has been kept so tightly under wraps that E!’s own website fell victim to the Hilton hoax and other planted stories that producers won’t yet divulge.

“The Hilton hoax” was a recent gossip item in which Paris Hilton was photographed dining with a “guru,” who has since been revealed to be an actor. Part of Kutcher’s idea here is to make a point about the private lives of celebrities being constantly under attack by the paparazzi. Yeah, okay, that’s a good point I guess. But what really gives me just a small jolt of joy is this quote from Kutcher’s producing partner Jason Goldberg:

“We’re having fun, but we want to say to people, ‘Can you really believe everything you read and see?’ “

I think that’s great! And not to ruin the show for you, but SPOILER ALERT: the answer is, “Nope. Not even that Kabbalah crap.” After the jump, some delicious Kutcher pics for your Saturday morning enjoyment.

Seriously, just forget about the stupid Kabbalah stuff.

And finally some Klassic Kutcher.

Rebecca Watson

Rebecca is a writer, speaker, YouTube personality, and unrepentant science nerd. In addition to founding and continuing to run Skepchick, she hosts Quiz-o-Tron, a monthly science-themed quiz show and podcast that pits comedians against nerds. There is an asteroid named in her honor. Twitter @rebeccawatson Mastodon mstdn.social/@rebeccawatson Instagram @actuallyrebeccawatson TikTok @actuallyrebeccawatson YouTube @rebeccawatson BlueSky @rebeccawatson.bsky.social

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15 Comments

  1. I think it's funny when non-Jews start getting into Kabbalah. It doesn't make any sense. Do they convert to Judaism? I doubt it. So it's really a farce. It's like an atheist speaking in tonguges. I know that's not the main topic of this post, but…

  2. HAHA! Wow, yeah, minus the wrist-macrame, this is a pretty good idea. Any guesses on what silly things that have happened in the past that have been Punk'd for this show? I'm thinking he's responsible for the whole undead-savior 2k years ago thing! Just wait till he tells the media about THAT one.

  3. Ya know, sometimes I can agree with the ladies on this site about a dude's attractiveness, etc. But Kutcher is one case where I just can't agree. Not from a physical, nor intellectual, nor (apparent) social standpoint.

    As such, the pictures have no effect on my behavior and I believe I'm entitled to mock his Kabbalah-loving tendencies all I want :-P

    Oh, and on a related note: I was in the Prudential Center complex on Thursday and walked past the hotel that's in between the Copley and Prudential malls (don't remember which hotel that is). They were having a conference there about Kabbalah, and a woman was standing by the entrance directing people in.

    Behind her, on a HUGE banner, were the words "Best-Kept Secret", and there was also a poster with several of the claimed benefits of Kabbalah. As I walked by I heard her question two women who were (apparently) looking for the conference. She asked "Best-Kept Secret?", and I, noticing the banners and poster, couldn't help but think "No, not anymore…"

  4. Wow…interesting idea. Punking the press and inspiring skepticism in the public. Who'd've thought…

  5. Ok, I can't wait for this show to come out. It sounds awesome. It would be such a fun thing to do if you were a celebrity! And it's very telling that only 1 out of at least 8 pranks were "discovered" before the airing of the show. (and even then, when the guru turned out to be an actor, they still thought the joke was on Hilton before this show was revealed!)

  6. "It’s like an atheist speaking in tonguges."

    I'm still laughing over this one! Too true. Remember that gold cross trend for a while, where everybody and their Aunt Betsy was wearing a gold cross? I just wonder how long it's going to be before a Star of David or a head scarf is a fashion accessory …

  7. How hard can it be to punk the media? Just send them a press release on a slow news day and they'll put whatever you want on the air.

    *sigh*

  8. Do they convert to Judaism? I doubt it.

    Of course not. Nobody converts to Judaism unless they are a woman wanting to marry into a Jewish family. Jews don't care, because Judaism doesn't have a concept of "we're the only ones who are right, and everyone else is going to Gehenna".

  9. Ya know, if I thought it would get me into Demi's pants, I'd wear some red string around my wrist, too.

  10. Well,

    One of my favorite "guys in the gym" is one of the first Jews at Yale (he was on the boxing team, back in the forties, Light heavyweight, I love him…truely…)

    He's a rock hard trooper to the bone and we talk often.

    I made him laugh out loud when I asked about the "Kabala".

    Basically, I said:

    This is something SO deep that only your most intellent Rabi's can understand it, and then only when they're over forty, and now we're dumbing it down enough that Ashton Cusher and Madona can "get it". I think something is wrong here…

    I nearly killed the man. He laughed that hard…

    I' m happy that he survived the laughter, but I was concerned for a moment.

    Just sayin',

    rod

  11. "Of course not. Nobody converts to Judaism unless they are a woman wanting to marry into a Jewish family. "

    I can personally name three men who have converted to Judaism because of marriage, so this is demonstrably untrue.

    Kabbalah is mysticism, and mysticism is always bullcrap. Next.

  12. Is it more telling that the media was duped, because as it was noted they'll run anything on a slow day, or that Paris strutting around town with a guru like he was her new purse pet was somehing that didn't seem out of character.

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