Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Claim
Taylor Swift calls LA wildfires a ‘divine retribution’ for US aid to Israel in war against Gaza.
Fact
Video found to be manipulated using AI.
A purported video of American musician Taylor Swift dubbing the raging Los Angeles wildfires, that has claimed at least 25 lives, as a “divine retribution” for the US financial aid to Israel in the war against Gaza, has gone viral on social media platforms.
“Israel burns Gaza for year and a half with missiles funded by US taxpayers. Only for God’s punishment to strike the US in just two days. For over a year and a half, Gaza has endured relentless bombing by missiles financed through the taxes paid by American citizens.”
“ This brutal assault has caused immense suffering for Gaza’s residents, and left its infrastructure in ruins, while the world remained largely silent. However, in just two days divine retribution struck the United States as a natural disaster consumed an area larger than Gaza itself…,” Swift is purportedly heard saying in the video.
Multiple X, Facebook and YouTube users shared the minute-long alleged video of Swift terming the US wildfires as “God’s punishment” for helping Israel in war against Gaza
Such posts can be seen here, here, here and here.
Also Read: Old Video From Chile Shared As Firefighting Plane Crashing In Los Angeles
Fact Check/Verification
A Google search for “Taylor Swift” and “Los Angeles fire” did not yield any credible reports stating that the singer termed the recent disaster a “divine retribution” for “attacks on Gaza.”
On carefully analysing the footage, we spotted a slight jump cut around 0:27 seconds and noticed Swift’s hand and facial movements were identical to the one seen in the beginning of the video, indicating that a clip was played on loop.Further, her jaw area appeared blurrier and distorted at certain points in the video, raising our doubts.
Subsequent investigation led us to a YouTube video by ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’, dated November 12, 2021. It featured Swift in the same attire, sitting in an identical background as seen in the viral clip, and stated, “Taylor Swift talks about the highly anticipated release of RED (Taylor’s Version), including never-heard-before songs, and shares the story of why “All Too Well” is actually 10 minutes long.”
Also Read: Mosque Survived Los Angeles Wildfires Unscathed? Here’s The Truth Behind Viral Photo
Around 4:17 minutes into the YouTube video, we spotted Swift doing the same hand gestures, and facial movements as seen in the viral clip. However, the audio was different.
We skimmed through the entire interview clip, but did not find Swift making any such statement.
Notably, the video was posted on YouTube in November 2021, and the current Hamas-Israel war, however, began in October 2023.
We then looked up a 20-second snippet from the viral clip on AI detection tool Hive Moderation, which calculated an aggregate 99.8% likelihood that the media contains AI-generated or deepfake content.
Another AI detection platform, Resemble.ai also concluded that the audio heard in the clip was “fake.”
Conclusion
Hence, the viral video of Taylor Swift calling the Los Angeles wildfires “divine retribution” for the US’ help to Israel in war against Gaza was found to be manipulated using AI.
Result: Altered Media
Sources
YouTube Video By The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Dated November 12, 2021
Hive Moderation Website
Resemble.ai Website
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Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
