Fact Check: ‘Go Back Grok’, says TN BJP chief Annamalai? No, protest placard is edited
An image has been circulating with the claim that Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai was seen protesting AI chatbot Grok with a ‘Go Back Grok’ placard.
By Md Mahfooz Alam
Claim:Amid the stir Grok caused in India, BJP leader K Annamalai holds a placard in protest, reading ‘Go Back Grok.’
Fact:The claim is false. The image is edited. The original placard reads ‘#ShameOnYouStalin.’
Hyderabad: Elon Musk’s AI chatbot, Grok, has sparked controversy in India with its unfiltered responses containing Hindi slang and expletives while discussing prime minister Narendra Modi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and other prominent personalities. It also named BJP Tamil Nadu chief K Annamalai as a ‘top fake news peddler’ in the State.
In this context, an image of Annamalai holding a placard reading ‘Go Back Grok’ has been circulating, with the claim that he protested the AI chatbot.
An X user shared the image with a satirical caption, “If Grok exposes Gobi Manchurian so badly- failures, degree, taxpayer’s money, funds then they are certainly shivering in their boots. Someone should ask Grok about thambi @annamalai_k also.” (Archive)
Fact Check
NewsMeter found that the claim is false. The image was edited.
A reverse image search revealed that the same image was posted by Annamalai on his X and Instagram accounts on December 26, 2024. However, the original placard read ‘#ShameOnYouStalin.’
The posts were against Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin, alleging that he suppressed the voices of ordinary people and used media to divert public anger.
Here is the comparison of the edited and original images.
We also found the image with the original placard in reports by Deccan Herald and News9 published on December 26, 2024. The reports stated that Annamalai intensified his attack on the DMK government, accusing the police of exposing the identity of a sexual assault victim from Anna University by disclosing FIR details.
Therefore, we conclude that the placard is edited.
