Uri Geller bent spoons with his mind
| Uri Geller bent spoons with his mind | |
|---|---|
| FALSE | |
| "Uri Geller has genuine psychokinetic powers that let him bend spoons, stop watches and read minds." | |
| Domain | Paranormal & Supernatural |
| Tactic | Pseudoscience / Junk Science Fraud or Scam |
| Era | Historical |
| First seen | Early 1970s |
| Origin | Geller's stage shows in Israel and his television appearances in Europe and the US in the 1970s |
| Last reviewed | 2026-10-29 |
| Further reading: books on Paranormal & Supernatural | |
Uri Geller became a global celebrity in the 1970s by appearing to bend spoons and keys with his mind. Magicians, including James Randi, showed that his feats could be reproduced with standard conjuring techniques. On The Tonight Show in 1973, when host Johnny Carson's staff supplied props Geller had not handled, he was unable to perform.
The claim
Geller said his abilities were real, and some scientists in the 1970s tested him in laboratory conditions.
What the evidence shows
- Tonight Show. Following Randi's advice, the show prevented Geller and his team from handling the props beforehand. He produced no effects.
- Replication. Magicians routinely perform spoon bending using misdirection and pre-bent cutlery.
- Lawsuits. Geller sued Randi and others for defamation; the suits were dismissed or settled without vindicating his claims.
Sources
- James Randi, The Magic of Uri Geller (Ballantine Books, 1975), later reissued as The Truth About Uri Geller.
- Wikipedia, "Uri Geller."