Since the Met Gala on Sept. 13, 2021, rumors have swirled around social media that musician, actress and fashion businesswoman Rihanna is pregnant. But a photo that claims to prove it is not as it seems — it has been altered.
The photo, shared on Facebook, shows Rihanna walking outdoors, wearing a black dress and showing what appears to be a baby bump.
“Congratulations Rihanna,” the post says with baby emojis.
Not so fast. The post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.) A quick reverse-image search on Tineye and Google Images shows not only that the image in the post has been doctored, but also that this same altered image has been shared multiple times in previous years. The original photo dates back to at least 2016, and it clearly shows Rihanna without the bump.
Rihanna and her boyfriend, rapper A$AP Rocky, have not publicly announced a pregnancy or confirmed the rumors.
Add Rihanna to the long list of celebrities whose doctored images we’ve debunked, including Mike Tyson, Whoopi Goldberg, Chief Justice John Roberts, Rachel Levine, Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, President Joe Biden and former presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump.
We don’t love the way this photo lies. Pants on Fire!
Truth-o-meter Ruling
IF YOUR TIME IS SHORT
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A photo of Rihanna was altered to make her look pregnant.
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She and her boyfriend, rapper A$AP Rocky, have not announced a pregnancy.
Statement
Context
a Facebook postSpeaker/Target
Statement Date
Our Sources
Facebook photo, Sept. 14, 2021
TinEye Reverse Image Search, accessed Sept. 16, 2021
Google Image, accessed Sept. 16, 2021
TinEye, search results of original Rihanna picture, accessed Sept. 16, 2021
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PolitiFact, Image of Michelle Obama is absolutely altered, May 8, 2021
PolitiFact, Joe Biden, Olivia Rodrigo did not appear in press briefing together with Jen Psaki, July 16, 2021
PolitiFact, Don’t fall for these altered images of Obama, Clinton and Rice with bin Laden, Feb. 19, 2020
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