Fact Check: "Jeanne Calment was a fraud."
What We Know
Jeanne Calment, a French woman born on February 21, 1875, is recognized as the oldest verified person in history, having lived to the age of 122 years and 164 days before her death on August 4, 1997 (source-2). Recently, a group of Russian researchers, Valery Novoselov and Nikolay Zak, claimed that Calment actually died in the 1930s and that her daughter, Yvonne, assumed her identity to evade inheritance taxes (source-1). They argued that discrepancies in eye color documented over the years indicated that Calment and her daughter were not the same person (source-1).
In response to these claims, a report titled "The real facts supporting Jeanne Calment as the oldest ever human" was published by a group of French specialists, including Jean-Marie Robine, who had previously interviewed Calment. This report stated that the accusations were based on "inaccurate facts" and labeled them a "conspiracy theory" (source-1). The French researchers emphasized that Calment's age is "well-documented" and that there was no evidence of tax fraud or identity falsification (source-1).
Analysis
The claims made by the Russian researchers have been met with skepticism from the scientific community. Experts in longevity and demography have pointed out that the evidence presented by Novoselov and Zak lacks substantial backing. For instance, the assertion regarding differing eye colors does not convincingly demonstrate that Calment and her daughter were distinct individuals, as such changes can occur naturally over time (source-5).
Moreover, the French researchers have conducted thorough analyses of the documentation supporting Calment's identity, including census records and interviews, which consistently affirm her age (source-6). The Tarascon prosecutor's office has also rejected any attempts to amend Calment's death certificate, further solidifying the validity of her documented age (source-1).
The Russian study has been criticized for its methodological flaws and lack of peer-reviewed support, which raises questions about its reliability. In contrast, the French researchers involved in validating Calment's age are recognized experts in their field, lending credibility to their findings (source-4).
Conclusion
The claim that Jeanne Calment was a fraud is False. The evidence supporting her age is robust and well-documented, while the allegations of identity theft and tax evasion lack credible support. The scientific community, particularly experts in longevity research, overwhelmingly supports the validity of Calment's record as the oldest verified person in history.
Sources
- France insists world's 'oldest woman' was not fake BBC
- Jeanne Calment Wikipedia
- Was Jeanne Calment the Oldest Person Who Ever Lived—or a Fraud? The New Yorker
- Researchers claim world record for longest life a case of fraud CBS News
- How we know the oldest person who ever lived wasn’t faking The Verge
- Clarifications by Inserm following the fraud allegations Inserm
- World's oldest-ever person was fraud who stole mother's identity The Independent
- World's oldest woman, 122, 'was a complete fraud who took mother's identity' Metro
