There is an image of Chris Rock seemingly wearing a pad on his cheek as Will Smith slapped him at the 2022 Oscars, and it’s fake.
Social media users are sharing an altered version of a Reuters photograph claiming to show evidence, and the outlet is now fact-checking this photo.
“If you think the slap was real. Then why is Chris Rock wearing a prosthetic pad on his cheek? Plus his hands are behind his back and he leans forward. Fake fake fake. All for ratings,” one social media user captioned the altered photo.
Reuters has provided a comparison of the original and altered, alleged “high definition” photograph, showcasing where the Photoshop job incorrectly smooths the original photo.
“Photos from that night show Rock had a light stubble (here), (here), something that should be visible on the apparently more ‘high definition’ photo circulating on social media. Instead, his face appears smooth and clean shaven, another indication the image was digitally altered,” they determined.
Find out what Will Smith‘s mom had to say about the incident.
