Debunked: Viral Photo of Ryan Reynolds in Kamala Harris T-Shirt Exposed as Fake

An image of Ryan Reynolds appears to have been generated using artificial intelligence, as Reynolds has not publicly endorsed any candidate in the 2024 presidential race.

With the 2024 presidential election approaching, celebrities are declaring their support for either Republican nominee former President Donald Trump or presumptive Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris.

Recently, an image went viral on social media depicting “Deadpool & Wolverine” star Ryan Reynolds wearing a t-shirt with a Tide logo spoof, saying, “Kamala removes nasty orange stains,” a reference to Harris and Trump.

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Commenters quickly claimed the photo was fake.

THE QUESTION

Is the image of Ryan Reynolds wearing a Kamala Harris t-shirt real?

THE ANSWER

No, the image of Ryan Reynolds wearing a Kamala Harris t-shirt is not real.

WHAT WE FOUND

Visual analysis indicates the image was likely produced with generative AI, a technology capable of creating new content, including images, videos, and text based on prompts.

Several visual inconsistencies give away the image’s artificial nature. Reynolds’ hands appear misshapen and pixelated, his skin too smooth, and his ears smaller than normal. An unrealistic shadow falls from his jawline, and the watch on his wrist seems dotted with pink. These anomalies point toward AI creation.

Further scrutiny of the viral image shows discrepancies in Reynolds’ nose and the addition of a non-existent tattoo on his left forearm. Cross-referencing with real photos of Reynolds reveals no such tattoo.

The t-shirt itself presents irregularities; its supposedly wrinkled texture looks flat, and the colors are overly vibrant. The black ink on the shirt even bleeds down Reynolds’ arm, a hallmark of AI-generated imagery.

A reverse image search using RevEye found no reputable sources publishing the photo, an additional indicator of its inauthenticity. Given Reynolds’ public profile, a genuine photo would have garnered media attention.

Thus far, Reynolds has not expressed support for any candidate in the election. Originally from Canada, Reynolds became a U.S. citizen in 2018 and voted for the first time in the 2020 election, without disclosing his choice.

Attempts to reach Reynolds’ representatives for comment were unreturned at the time of publication.