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| - Last Updated on October 9, 2024 by Nivedita
Quick Take
Various social media posts show a picture of Sylvester Stallone t-shirt including a message against COVID-19 vaccine and Biden. We fact checked and found it to be False.
The Claim
“There are 4 useless things in this world: a woke person, COVID-19 vaccine, Anthony Fauci and Biden,” reads the alleged message on Stallone’s black t-shirt. The post can be seen here, here, and here and a screenshot is attached below.
Fact Check
Did Sylvester Stallone t-shirt include a message against COVID-19 vaccine and Biden?
No. The picture has been altered. The original photo can be viewed on Shutterstock as a stock image. You can find the original picture here which shows Stallone wearing a plain black t-shirt.
The controversy over Sylvester Stallone’s T-shirt message reflects the broader concerns about vaccine narratives, including the misleading claims about animal testing associated with COVID-19 vaccines.
Stallone’s message may reflect broader sentiments seen in public reactions to vaccine policies, which are modeled in various scenarios as discussed in another article analyzing the justification of government policies during the pandemic
The influence of celebrities like Sylvester Stallone can shape public perceptions of health and vaccination, similar to the sensational claims about medications like ivermectin, which have been widely discussed in various media outlets.
When was the picture taken?
According to the description on the post, the picture predates the COVID-19 pandemic. But, the picture was captured on June 28, 2018, which dates to pre-covid times as Covid became a pandemic in 2020. Other images from that day can be seen here, here, and here.
Therefore, the image is digitally altered to include a message against COVID-19 vaccines, U.S. President Joe Biden and U.S. top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci. Hence, the claim is false.
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