When comedian and writer Tessa Coates went wedding dress shopping, she wasn’t expecting to break reality. But that’s exactly what happened.
Tessa recently shared a photo on Instagram that left people questioning the laws of physics—and possibly their sanity. At first glance, it looks like a normal mirror selfie. But take a closer look, and things start getting weird.
In the reflection, Tessa’s hands appear in three different positions at once, as if she’s caught mid-motion in multiple realities. No Photoshop. No fancy camera tricks. Just pure, unfiltered chaos.
“I went wedding dress shopping, and the fabric of reality crumbled,” she captioned the eerie image. “This is a real photo—no Photoshop, no panorama, no Live Photo. If you can’t see the problem, keep looking… and then you won’t be able to unsee it.”
The image sent the internet into a frenzy. Some congratulated her on her engagement. Others urged her to run before “the guys in suits” (aka, the Matrix agents) came knocking.
One person wrote, “How… is this possible? Also, congrats! Delighted for you. And now concerned because those guys in suits will come for you.”
Another chimed in: “This whole sequence of events is both absolutely terrifying and hilarious.”
And a third summed it up perfectly: “Only you could find the most epic way to announce your engagement—mystery, excitement, and a glitch in reality. Congratulations!”
But what actually happened?
After receiving countless messages about the mind-bending image, Tessa turned to an expert—an Apple Store employee named Roger. After a two-hour wait, Roger cracked the case.
The eerie effect was caused by the way iPhones capture images in burst mode. According to Roger, as the camera panned from left to right, Tessa must have moved her hands at just the right moment. The phone’s AI then stitched together multiple images, creating an unintentional but perfectly bizarre illusion.
Tessa later shared the explanation on her Instagram Stories, pointing out the seam where the images had been fused. She also revealed that similar AI-powered features are being tested on Google Pixel and iPhones, allowing phones to take multiple shots and combine the best elements.
As for Roger? He called it a “one in a million chance.”
Honestly, we’re just relieved to have an answer. Because for a second there, it really looked like the Matrix was glitching.
Would this photo have freaked you out too? Share it with your friends and see if they can spot the illusion!
