Jay Z is a lizard: Yep, many believe Mr Beyonce is actually a member of a secret elite society that controls the planet. "Observe Jay-Z's innate ability to amass fortunes, control people, obtain the beautiful women in the world," one conspiracy theory website comments. Oh, he's also a reptile apparently.

Michael Jackson killed the Iranian revolution: Some claim the pop legend's death in June 2009 was orchestrated to be a distraction from a brewing revolution in Iran. Hmm.

Aaliyah died to promote her film: Rising R&B diva Aaliyah was just 22 when she was tragically killed in a plane crash. However, eagled-eyed conspiracy theorists were quick to point out the singer probably, definitely died a horrible, terrifying death because she had a film, Queen of the Damned, to promote. Just lovely.

Paul McCartney is dead: We all know this one. This urban legend suggests the Beatles member was killed in 69 and replaced by a lookalike. One solid piece of proof is that White Album track 'Revolution 9' kinda, sorta sounds like it's saying "turn me on, dead man" when played backwards. The only conclusion we've come to is that people have too much time on their hands.

Beyonce was never pregnant: Christ, conspiracy theorists suck the fun out of everything don't they? Everyone oohed and ahhed when Beyonce unveiled her bun in the oven at the 2011 MTV VMAs. However, rumours began to circulate the bump was actually fake after footage emerged showing B's swollen belly seemingly folding in half when she sat down.

Morrissey predicted Princess Diana's death: David Alice, owner of dianamystery.com, is adamant The Smiths frontman foresaw the death of the people's princess on the 1986 album The Queen Is Dead. His evidence? Track 'There Is A Light That Never Goes Out' mention death and a darkened underpass but the 13th word on side 1 is "arches" and the 13th word on side 2 is "smash" %u2013 Diana died when her car hit the 13th arch of the Alma Tunnel. One of the many reasons we don't believe this is because we all know Morrissey doesn't give a toss about the royal family.

The Beatles told Charles Manson to kill people: Crazed serial killer and one time cult leader Manson claims the Fab Four sent messages to him via White Album track 'Helter Skelter', inciting him to start a race war and kill innocent people. We think he was may have just been criminally insane.

The CIA killed John Lennon: Some claim Lennon's shooter Mark Chapman was actually a CIA hitman, and the Republican Government had ordered his assassination in 1969 due to the Beatles member's vocal opposition to the Vietnam war and campaign of pacifism.

Gangsta Rap was invented to fill prisons: An anonymous letter posted on HipHopIsRead.com details an alleged meeting that took place in 1991 between music industry bigwigs that was called to discuss promoting music that glamourises criminal behaviour to encourage youths to use drugs and guns to fill prisons. The music they went for? Gangsta rap. It's probably nonsense, but Dr Dre's done well off it anyway.

Brian Jones was murdered: Shortly after The Rolling Stones' guitarist was booted out of the band in 1969, Jones' body was discovered floating, lifeless, in the swimming pool of his Sussex home. The official cause of death was given as drowning under the influence of drugs and alcohol, but many, including Jones' girlfriend at the time, insist Jones' minder, Frank Thorogood, killed him - but it was covered up to protect the Stones' image.

Nicki Minaj is just Jay Z sped up: If you slow down Nicki Minaj's rap vocals on 'Super Bass' she bears an uncanny resemblance to Jay Z. So, naturally, Nicki Minaj must never actually rap, she merely lip-syncs to Jay Z's sped up vocals.

Taylor Swift and the number 13: Taylor Swift, born on 13 December, has always been vocal about her love for the supposedly unlucky number. She would write the number on her hand during live shows, her first album had 13 tracks and her Twitter handle has the number in it. But actually, her dedication to the number is a lot more sinister - she was bred to join the 13 bloodlines of the Illuminati? Need proof? Kanye West's famous VMA interruption happened on 13 SEPTEMBER!!!! and was in fact an Illuminati initiation *drops mic, walks away triumphant*.

Elvis isn't dead: Everyone knows that Elvis Presley is in fact alive and well, spending his time appearing as an extra on Home Alone and hanging out with Muhammad Ali. Because if you were one of the most famous people on the planet and managed to successfully fake your own death, you would definitely risk it all to be an extra in a family Christmas film.

Lorde isn't a teenager: We can only assume it was insecurity that led so many people to insist so forcefully that Lorde, so physically and emotionally mature, couldn't possibly be 17. When she talked about being a teenager in the past tense in a Rookie interview, before quickly adding, "I mean, I am still a teenager...", the theorists began patting each other on the back. Until, that is, her birth certificate revealed that she actually was born in 1996.

Courtney killed Kurt: One of the most well-known conspiracy theories out there, many Nirvana fans believe Cobain's ex wife Courtney Love had him killed by hit men, with believers citing the fact his suicide note was written in the third person amongst evidence Love is responsible for the Nirvana frontman's death.