David Copperfield says he posts fake videos explaining his illusions to throw people off

David Copperfield will get a kick out of seeing people strive to copy his illusions.

In a revealing new interview, the legendary magician, 66, instructed CBS Sunday Morning that he truly posts fake videos on-line to throw off people who assume they know the way he pulls off his well-known stunts, which have included seemingly slicing people in half to making the Statue of Liberty vanish.

Over the years the jaw-dropping illusions have seen so-called “explainers” pop up on-line from those that strive to break down how every “trick” — a phrase Copperfield himself tries to keep away from — works. Some of those “explainers,” the magician admitted to CBS’s Tracy Smith, are ones he’s posted, “as somebody else,” to deliberately misdirect followers.

Why? “Because it’s fun!” he instructed Smith.

In 2018, the illusionist was pressured to reveal the secrets and techniques of his “Lucky #13” stunt in courtroom after being sued by a former participant who claimed he was injured whereas participating; Copperfield was finally discovered negligent however not financially chargeable for the person’s accidents. Under regular circumstances, nevertheless, he takes pains to comply with the magician’s code, although he did give Smith and CBS a uncommon sneak peek at his present work.

“I think this is the first time we’ve discussed the journey, the process, on national TV,” mentioned Copperfield, whereas explaining that every of his illusions begin out a a sketch on paper. Some change into a 3-D mannequin, like his upcoming challenge, which can entail having a bunch of people both disappear or fly. Still, he maintained a component of thriller and declined to share particulars.

At 66 years previous, the billionaire illusionist legend has little interest in slowing down. Father to a teenage daughter he shares with longtime girlfriend Chloe Gosselin, Copperfield remains to be doing 15 exhibits per week, which suggests performing three exhibits on Saturdays and “no days off.” His motivation, he instructed Smith, is his sheer ardour for magic.

Story continues

“I really enjoy it,” he mentioned. “I’m fortunate, you know, to walk out there and people are kind of happy to be there, you know? And some people actually need to be there. People are in the front row, and I can see in their face: Take me away, I need to dream.”

He additionally loves proving people unsuitable, together with the naysayers who present up to his present on the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“There can be 20,000 in an arena; there’s one lady in the front row with her arms crossed, and that’s the one I want,” he shared. “That lady, I have to try to … make her smile, you know?”

Just do not name his advanced work “magic tricks.”

“My ‘magic’ is real, to a certain degree,” he mentioned. “When you hear people call them ‘magic tricks,’ it’s kind of like … I understand, I accept it, I use the word ‘trick,’ I did it today. But it’s kind of diminishing all the hard work that goes in that in-between part, from when it’s not there and when it’s there.”