Fact Check: Image of PM Modi looking at Rihanna ‘inappropriately’ is morphed
In the original image, PM Modi is looking at an empty chair.
By Md Mahfooz Alam Published on 23 Jun 2023 10:23 AM GMT
Hyderabad: A photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi sitting beside Barbadian pop superstar Rihanna and looking 'inappropriately' at her is going viral on social media.
Several Twitter and Facebook users have shared the photo.
(Source: Twitter/@MohitArjun1)
In 2021, Rihanna tweeted in support of the farmer’s protest which caused quite a stir in India. Hours after the tweet, the superstar drew global attention and backlash in India. The Ministry of External Affairs released a statement criticising the celebrity.
Fact Check
NewsMeter found that the viral image has been digitally manipulated. In the original image, PM Modi is looking at an empty chair. We cropped the photo of Modi and performed a reverse image search, which led us to the original picture posted on Facebook on August 29, 2022. It shows Modi looking at empty chairs.
After the morphed photo went viral, several Twitter users also posted the original picture. (Click here and here to see the posts.)
On performing a reverse image search of the photo of Rihanna, we came across a report by Mirror from March 1, 2017, titled “Rihanna is chic in off-the-shoulder dress as she collects Harvard’s 2017 Humanitarian of the Year Award.”
The report features several photos of the popstar from the event, including the viral one, but none showed Modi sitting beside her.
(Source: Mirror)
Here is the comparison of morphed and original photos.
Hence, we conclude that the viral photo of PM Modi looking at Rihanna is morphed.
