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.
Claim
The recent unveiling of a gigantic statue of Virat Kohli at Times Square in New York.
Fact
Video is CGI created by Duroflex, and does not show any actual statue.
Several social media users, including verified handles, shared a video showing a gigantic golden-coloured-statue of Virat Kohli at Times Square in New York City. The footage shows the cricketer’s statue installed in the middle of multiple skyscrapers with display boards featuring adverts for Duroflex – a ‘sleep solutions’ company that signed Kohli as their brand ambassador in May, 2023.
Multiple X and Facebook users shared the video purportedly showing the statue of Virat Kohli at Times Square. Some users also shared the screengrabs from the same. The footage has also found its way to YouTube. Newschecker, however, found that the video is in fact CGI, and does not show an actual statue of the cricketer.
Such posts can be seen here, here, here and here.
Multiple Indian news outlets such as News18, Money Control, Hindustan Times, ABP News among others also reported on the unveiling of a gigantic statue of the Indian cricketer at Times Square.
Fact Check/Verification
We skimmed through the social media handles of New York City’s Time Square, but did not find any information about the unveiling of Virat Kohli’s statue. Additionally, a video shared on Instagram account of @timessquarenyc on June 28, 2024, did not feature any such installation.
Its website was devoid of any information about the cricketer’s statue too. The live footage of Times Square, streamed via EarthCam, did not show any such statue either.
A keyword search for “Virat Kohli,” “statue” and “Duroflex” on Google led us to an Instagram post by the mattress firm, dated June 23, 2024. Carrying the viral footage, it stated, “Just Unveiled: a larger-than-life statue of Virat Kohli at the iconic Times Square. This King’s Duty, we are going global and making history! Delivering Virat’s favourite Duroflex mattress to him in New York, West Indies and all throughout World Cup 2024! #ViratSleepsOnDuroflex *CGI video “
The hashtags used in the post – “#GreatSleepGreatHealth #ViratKohli #worldcup #cricket #CGI #cgianimation – further emphasised that the visual is computer generated imagery.
We skimmed through Duroflex’s profile, and found multiple such CGI generated content.
The same footage showing Kohli’s statue at the Times Square was shared on their X account with the hashtag “#CGI.”
It has been also shared on Duroflex’s YouTube channel and Facebook page with the hashtags “#CGI #cgi animation.”
Also Read: Viral Video Of Afghan Cricket Team Chanting ‘Vande Mataram’ Is Manipulated
Conclusion
Hence, the viral footage showing a giant statue of Virat Kohli at Times Square is actually CGI. It does not show any actual installation in New York.
Result: False
Sources
Instagram Post By @timessquarenyc, Dated June 28, 2024
Instagram Post By @duroflexworld, Dated June 23, 2024
X Post By @Duroflex_world, Dated June 23, 2024
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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.
