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Viral image

Viral image
stated on May 6, 2023 an Instagram post:

Photo shows former first lady Michelle Obama as a man.

Pants on Fire!

Facebook Fact-checks Viral image

Michelle Obama speaks to students in Vietnam on Dec. 9, 2019. (AP)

By Ciara O'Rourke
May 8, 2023

Another altered photo of Michelle Obama shared as part of unfounded conspiracy theory

If your time is short

This photo was altered.

See the sources for this fact-check

“No, it’s not photoshopped!” reads the text above an image of former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama that has indeed been altered.

The photo shows Barack Obama with his arm around Michelle Obama, except the photo has been doctored to make her appear masculine.

A May 6 Instagram post sharing the image was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)

Michelle Obama tweeted the original, unedited and undated image Dec. 25, 2014. The young couple were standing in front of a Christmas tree.

We rate claims that the edited version is authentic Pants on Fire!

Our Sources

Instagram post, May 6, 2023

Michelle Obama tweet, Dec. 25, 2014

Browse the Truth-O-Meter

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