The Curse Of Oak Island's Controversial 'Hoax' Theory, Explained

The allegation against “The Curse of Oak Island’s” veracity are widely varied and often vague, but the most extreme charge levied against it is that Rick and Marty Lagina (as well as the rest of the scientists and self-described experts in their employ) are essentially actors marching around the titular locale collecting “artifacts” planted by producers. Though this charge has not been levied against the series in a formal capacity (such as, say, by a mainstream news publication) as there isn’t legally defensible proof available, it’s a belief shared by many viewers, commonly alluded to during fan-discussions online. 

On the r/OakIsland subreddit (where redditors can share posts about the series and the legend in general), posts questioning the show are regularly met with jokes and a consensus that the show is at least partly fake. Academics, meanwhile, have denounced  the entire Oak Island mystery quite decisively. Harvard professor Richard Joltes called it “just one tale in a long-running mania for treasure legends all along the eastern seaboard,” while Halifax maritime historian and instructor Dan Conlin dubbed it “classic pseudohistory.”

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