Authors
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.
Ruby leads editorial, operations and initiatives at Newschecker. In her former avatar at New Delhi Television (NDTV), India’s leading national news network, she was a news anchor, supervising producer and senior output editor. Her over a decade-long career encompasses ground-breaking reportage from conflict zones and reporting on terror incidents, election campaigns, and gender issues. Ruby is an Emmy-nominated producer and has handled both local and international assignments, including the coverage of Arab Spring in 2011, the US Presidential elections in 2016, and ground reportage on the Kashmir issue since 2009.
Claim
Dua Lipa sexually harassed by some men while visiting Jodhpur, India.
Newschecker received the same claim on our WhatsApp tipline (+91 9999499044) requesting for it to be fact-checked.
Fact
Newschecker began by conducting a keyword search online to see if there were any more details on the allegation and found that there were no reports of this nature raising our suspicion.
We saw the watermark of RVCJ media on the viral post, which led us to a Facebook post by RVCJ media, that carried the same collage of images. However the text on the FB post was found to be different from the viral screengrab and read, “Dua Lipa is casually roaming around the streets of Jodhpur and no one is recognising her.”
The reverse image search led us to news report by The Free Press Journal titled “Locals Fail To Recognise Dua Lipa As She Takes A Stroll On Streets Of Jodhpur; Netizens REACT To Viral Video.” The report carried a tweet by an X user which showed the full of Dua Lipa’s walk in Jodhpur, from which the viral screenshots were taken. The video shows Dua Lipa casually strolling in a bluish-black t-shirt unbothered by locals, surrounded by her party. There is no movement or expression on Lipa’s part to convey hurry or alarm. The report did not mention anything about Dua Lipa being harassed by locals.
We further checked the Instagram and other social media pages of Dua Lipa but found no posts or stories regarding her alleged sexual harassment.
Result: Altered Media
Our Sources
Facebook post by RVCJ Media on December 27, 2023
Report on the Free Press Journal, dated December 27, 2023
Post on X, by user @gentleman07_ dated December 27, 2023
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Authors
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.
Ruby leads editorial, operations and initiatives at Newschecker. In her former avatar at New Delhi Television (NDTV), India’s leading national news network, she was a news anchor, supervising producer and senior output editor. Her over a decade-long career encompasses ground-breaking reportage from conflict zones and reporting on terror incidents, election campaigns, and gender issues. Ruby is an Emmy-nominated producer and has handled both local and international assignments, including the coverage of Arab Spring in 2011, the US Presidential elections in 2016, and ground reportage on the Kashmir issue since 2009.
