Claim: In 2021, actor Jennifer Lawrence bought property for a gas station owner named Mr. Patel, who had years earlier helped her when she was living out of her car in 2009, prior to becoming famous. Rating: About this rating FalseA rumor that circulated online in late 2025 and early 2026 claimed Oscar-winning actor Jennifer Lawrence performed a kind gesture to a gas station owner named Mr. Patel. A gas station owner, Mr. Patel, saw her washing her face in his bathroom every morning. It first identified Patel as "a gas station owner" when describing events that allegedly took place in 2009, then — in a contradictory turn of events — later claimed Lawrence's alleged purchase of the gas station elevated him from the position of worker to owner. "Patel's Station" — the alleged name of the gas station supposedly displayed on the establishment's sign — did not appear in any searches with the city of Los Angeles on Bing, DuckDuckGo or Google.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 16, 2026 18:04 UTC