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Viral image
Viral image
stated on September 22, 2019 in a Facebook post:

Says an image shows a paralyzed groom being held up by his groomsmen so he could kiss his bride.

False

No, this isn’t a photo of groomsmen holding up a paralyzed groom

One Facebook user wrote that they were “in tears” after seeing a post of a groom kissing the bride as his groomsmen lined up behind him in what looks like a single-file group hug. 

“He’s paralyzed and his friends held him up to kiss his beautiful bride,” the Sept. 22 post says. “Much respect! This is true friendship. Don’t scroll without sharing.”

This post, which has indeed been shared more than 56,000 times, 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.) 

Other Facebook users were also moved to tears, but more in the spirit of the crying-while-laughing emoji. 

“This is a fraternity thing,” one user wrote in the comments, “they ain’t holding him up.” 

This claim has been around since at least December 2016, when the website Diply posted a story titled: “People are so wrong about this viral photo showing ‘paralyzed man’ held up at wedding.”

It says the bride posted the photo on Instagram that year. The account credited with the photo is now private, but Diply published two others that show the bride and groom standing, unassisted. 

As AFP Fact Check notes, someone commenting on a similar Facebook post in 2016 wrote that the groom “belongs to the fraternity Omega Psi Phi and this is a traditional marriage pose that symbolizes how your brothers will always be there to support you.” 

We didn’t find any other examples of wedding photos like the one featured in the Facebook post, but we found several photos of the pose in different contexts searching for Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and line brothers. This Omega Psi Phi Pinterest page has multiple such images

We rate this Facebook post False.

 
Our Sources

No, this isn’t a photo of groomsmen holding up a paralyzed groom

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
stated on January 7, 2026 a press briefing

stated on January 14, 2026 a statement

Social Media
stated on February 14, 2026 social media posts



stated on January 20, 2026 an op-ed


Donald Trump
stated on February 3, 2026 remarks in the Oval Office


Social Media
stated on February 8, 2026 social media posts





Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
stated on stated on November 17, 2025 in remarks at George Washington University:

Donald Trump
stated on February 2, 2026 an interview with Dan Bongino