Support

Explore

HomeNo Image is Available
About UsNo Image is Available
AuthorsNo Image is Available
TeamNo Image is Available
CareersNo Image is Available
InternshipNo Image is Available
Contact UsNo Image is Available
MethodologyNo Image is Available
Correction PolicyNo Image is Available
Non-Partnership PolicyNo Image is Available
Cookie PolicyNo Image is Available
Grievance RedressalNo Image is Available
Republishing GuidelinesNo Image is Available

Languages & Countries :






More about them

Fact CheckNo Image is Available
LawNo Image is Available
ExplainersNo Image is Available
NewsNo Image is Available
DecodeNo Image is Available
Media BuddhiNo Image is Available
Web StoriesNo Image is Available
BOOM ResearchNo Image is Available
BOOM LabsNo Image is Available
Deepfake TrackerNo Image is Available
VideosNo Image is Available

Support

Explore

HomeNo Image is Available
About UsNo Image is Available
AuthorsNo Image is Available
TeamNo Image is Available
CareersNo Image is Available
InternshipNo Image is Available
Contact UsNo Image is Available
MethodologyNo Image is Available
Correction PolicyNo Image is Available
Non-Partnership PolicyNo Image is Available
Cookie PolicyNo Image is Available
Grievance RedressalNo Image is Available
Republishing GuidelinesNo Image is Available

Languages & Countries :






More about them

Fact CheckNo Image is Available
LawNo Image is Available
ExplainersNo Image is Available
NewsNo Image is Available
DecodeNo Image is Available
Media BuddhiNo Image is Available
Web StoriesNo Image is Available
BOOM ResearchNo Image is Available
BOOM LabsNo Image is Available
Deepfake TrackerNo Image is Available
VideosNo Image is Available
World

Hoax Video Claims Kobe Bryant's Widow Died By Suicide

The deceptively edited video falsely uses a BBC logo and footage of a Fox News anchor.

By - AFP | 25 Feb 2020 9:04 PM IST

A misleadingly edited video circulating online claims that basketball legend Kobe Bryant's widow killed herself. This is false; there has been no such announcement, and the footage actually shows a Fox News anchor speaking about the death of a colleague.

"BREAKING NEWS: VANESSA BRYANT Recorded her SUICIDE After Depression Attack this Morning," reads the headline that accompanies the video, which features a BBC News logo.

But there is no report of her death on the BBC News website.

A screenshot taken on February 18, 2020 shows a misleadingly edited video that falsely claims Kobe Bryant's widow killed herself

The claim comes weeks after Kobe Bryant and the couple's 13-year-old daughter Gianna died in a helicopter crash in California.

ALSO READ: ANI Misreports Athlete Anju Bobby George Joining BJP

The footage in the video is actually from Fox News, and shows anchor Neil Cavuto announcing the death of journalist Brenda Buttner in 2017.

"I have some very sad news to share with you today," Cavuto says, which has been in edited in the misleading video to cut off after that statement, warning users of graphic content and urging them to share the post in order to see the rest of the clip.

A screenshot taken on February 18, 2020 shows a message urging users to share the link to view the rest of the video

Clicking on some versions of the Vanessa Bryant suicide claim opens another video that follows the same pattern, but says that her daughter Natalia killed herself -- a claim that is likewise false.

ALSO READ: False: Suicide Attempt Over Government's LIC Stake Sale Plan

"BREAKING NEWS: KOBE BRYANT's ELDEST DAUGHTER 'NATALIA BRYANT' left a 'Suicide VIDEO' of Herself 'COMMITTING SUICIDE' After BEING BULLIED…" reads the headline that accompanies that video, which, like the claim about her mother, features a BBC News logo.

A screenshot taken on February 20, 2020 shows a misleadingly edited video that falsely claims Kobe Bryant's daughter Natalia killed herself

There are, however, no reports of Natalia Bryant's death on the BBC News website or elsewhere.

The video shows another anchor saying: "Well, tonight the shock is still raw for fans." It then prompts viewers that they must share the post to see the remainder.

The footage in the video is actually from Fox 32 Chicago, a network affiliate, and shows anchor Dawn Hasbrouck in a years-old clip.

ALSO READ: Has A Casino Been Opened For The First Time In Saudi Arabia?

"The graphics in that clip are at least five years old, and we haven't used them in a long time," Will Hager, a digital content creator at FOX 32 Chicago, told AFP by phone. "And it's really a dated video. Dawn looks different now. Everything is different."

Neither Bryant nor a representative could immediately be reached for comment about either of the false claims.

News outlets including Snopes and PolitiFact have also debunked the claims about the two members of the Bryant family dying by suicide.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by BOOM staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Tags: