Marilyn Monroe Did Not Possess Six Toes on Either Foot, Debunking the Myth

Regrettably, the persistent rumor that Marilyn Monroe had six toes on her left foot (or right foot) is indeed false. She was an unequivocal ten-toed beauty.

This peculiar misconception came to our attention through Danamo's Marilyn Monroe Pages, an outstanding fan site dedicated to all things Marilyn. The catalyst for this peculiar rumor was a photograph by fashion photographer Joe Jasgur, which appears to show Marilyn with six toes on her left foot.

However, Snopes.com has diligently investigated this claim and debunked it, attributing the illusion to a play of shadows and light:

The appearance of a "sixth toe" in Jasgur's photos is simply a result of the interplay of shadows and light, creating the impression of an extra toe at the base of the small toe, where it joins the outer edge of the foot.

It's important to clarify that the initial rumor was later misconstrued, suggesting that Marilyn had undergone surgical removal of her supposed sixth toe, which is why subsequent photos displayed only five toes. But this, too, is unequivocally false; she had five toes from the outset.

While we accept this explanation, it's admittedly challenging to discern precisely where these "shadows and light" may be causing the illusion. The appearance of the big toe and the next two toes is quite evident. However, it remains somewhat unclear whether it's the fourth and fifth toes that give the impression of two separate toes, with the pinky toe on the outer edge, or if they are suggesting that the entire pinky toe is merely a protrusion on the foot. The presence of a visible gap in the image further complicates the understanding.

To establish beyond any doubt that Marilyn Monroe had only five toes, one can examine other photographs. Fortunately, there is no shortage of images depicting a ten-toed Marilyn Monroe. For instance, a grainy image from 1951, during her performance for American troops in Korea, distinctly shows only five toes on her left foot.

In conclusion, Anne Boleyn did not have six fingers on one hand, and Marilyn Monroe did not possess six toes on either foot. Sometimes, history can indeed be rather uneventful.