Overview

• Netflix has distributed two versions of Black Mirror’s Season 7 episode ‘Bête Noire,’ differing only in the name of a fictional fast-food chain, Barnies or Bernies.
• This deliberate variation mirrors the episode’s plot, where a character uses technology to manipulate reality and gaslight others.
• Fans discovered the dual versions and shared side-by-side comparisons on social media, highlighting the subtle differences at specific timestamps.
• Netflix and the official Black Mirror Twitter account leaned into the stunt, posting cryptic tweets referencing the alternate names without offering an explanation.
• The move has sparked widespread online discussion, with fans drawing parallels to the Mandela Effect and debating the implications of this meta-experiment on collective memory.