Claim Analysis
I analyzed a claim I saw on Threads about SZA and Justin Bieber. The post said that SZA was paid “upwards of six figures” to clear her schedule for Coachella in case Justin Bieber dropped out at the last minute.
Step #1 First Impressions
The wording felt off because it said “EXCLUSIVE” but gave no actual source.
Step #2 Check the account
The page that posted it is just a pop culture account with tons of posts just like this, not a real news source. That made me question how reliable it actually is.
Step #3 Cross Reference
I searched the claim to see if other sources were reporting it (see search results). What I found instead were denials of the claim. The majority, if not all, of the articles I found (E News! , Page Six) said SZA denied the rumor and referenced her comment on an Instagram post.
Search Results
Step #4 Look at what those sources are based on
The majority, if not all, of the articles I found (E News! , Page Six) said SZA denied the rumor and referenced her comment on an Instagram post. That’s more credible than the original post, but I also couldn’t find the original comment anywhere.
Step #5 Check for direct evidence
Even though multiple sources referenced her denial, I wasn’t able to locate the original Instagram comment myself. That makes it harder to fully verify, even if it’s likely true.
Step #6 Compare both sides
The original claim had no source at all, while the denial is backed by multiple sources referencing SZA directly. That makes the denial more reliable overall.
With this information, the claim is most likely false or at least misleading. This shows why it’s important to not just see how many sources exist, but actually check what they’re saying and where the information comes from.