A video of Robin Williams interacting with Koko the gorilla had been making the rounds online, tugging at heartstrings everywhere. In the clip, Koko, reportedly grieving the loss of a companion, seems to light up as Williams plays and jokes with her. It was the kind of moment that felt too pure for this world. But as with most viral content, there’s more to the story.

While the emotional reaction is very real, the narrative around it has taken a few internet-sized liberties. Turns out, some key details might not be exactly as they’ve been shared across timelines.

Robin Williams, a gorilla, and a feel-good fake Robin Williams in Good Will Hunting | Credits: Miramax Films

The internet’s favorite tearjerker moment, Robin Williams making a grieving gorilla smile, isn’t quite what it seems. That emotional clip of him bonding with Koko, the gorilla who hadn’t “smiled in six months,...