Who was Psychic Sylvia Browne? 90s Fixture Goes Viral Years After Passing

Self-proclaimed psychic Sylvia Browne, a prominent figure in the 1990s known for her frequent appearances on shows like Larry King Live and The Montel Williams Show, is experiencing a viral comeback years after her death. Clips of Browne’s often shocking—and frequently incorrect—predictions have been circulating widely on social media, even inspiring a recent Saturday Night Live sketch featuring Amy Poehler portraying the psychic.

Browne began her career in the 1970s and gained notoriety for her public interactions with audiences, offering insights about lost or deceased loved ones. However, many of these pronouncements were later proven false, leading to significant controversy. For instance, in 2002, Browne told the parents of missing child Shawn Hornbeck that he was dead, abducted by a “dark-skinned man who had dreadlocks,” yet Hornbeck was found alive in 2007 after being kidnapped by a white man. Browne’s publicist responded at the time, stating, “She cannot possibly be 100% correct in each and every one of her predictions. She has, during a career of over 50 years, helped literally tens of thousands of people.”

A similar misstep occurred in 2004 when Browne informed the mother of missing girl Amanda Berry that her daughter had died and was “in heaven and on the other side.” Berry was later found alive in 2013 after escaping captivity. Following Berry’s escape, Browne posted a statement on her Facebook page acknowledging her error, saying, “For more than 50 years as a spiritual psychic and guide, when called upon to either help authorities with missing person cases or to help families with questions about their loved ones, I have been more right than wrong. If ever there was a time to be grateful and relieved for being mistaken, this is that time. Only God is right all the time.”

In recent weeks, many of Browne’s appearances on The Montel Williams Show have gone viral again, sparking social media criticism with users labeling her a “fraud” and “charlatan” due to her blunt and often false claims. One TikTok user remarked, “The way she gaslit this audience,” while another said, “All the BS that Sylvia Browne made a fortune from.”

Throughout her career, Browne authored over 50 books, 22 of which made the New York Times Bestsellers List. She passed away on November 20, 2013. A message on her official website at the time of her death described her as someone who “shared her gift with friends and family, gaining a reputation for accuracy with her trademark down-to-earth approach and sense of humor.”

The renewed interest in Browne’s work has introduced her legacy to a new generation, albeit amid renewed scrutiny and debate over the authenticity of her psychic claims.