Rihanna’s image morphed with Pakistani flag after her tweet in support of farmers’ protest

An image purportedly showing Rihanna holding the flag of Pakistan was shared after the singer tweeted in support of the farmers’ protest in India. Google India trends saw a huge spike in the search terms ‘Rihanna Muslim’ and ‘Rihanna Pakistani‘ after her tweet went viral in the country.

BJP Uttar Pradesh spokesperson Shalabh Mani Tripathi was among those who amplified the picture of the pop icon holding the Pakistani flag. Tripathi has retweeted BJP UP Yuva Morcha worker Abhishek’s tweet.

Communal rabble-rouser and frequent fake news peddler ‘Shankhnaad’ also shared the photograph.

The image is widespread on both Twitter and Facebook with the caption ‘चमचो की नई राजमाता रिहन्ना ।। अब आप सब कुछ समझ जाइये (The new queen mother of lapdogs, Rihanna. Now you understand)’.

Morphed image

A simple reverse image search reveals that the photograph has been morphed. In reality, Rihanna was holding a flag with the Cricket West Indies (CWI) crest.

Look who’s at #SLvWI to Rally ’round the West Indies!

Watch out for @rihanna‘s new single, Shut Up And Cover Drive 😉🎶 #CWC19 | #MenInMaroon pic.twitter.com/cou1V0P7Zj

— ICC (@ICC) July 1, 2019

She held the flag during West Indies vs Sri Lanka cricket march in the ICC 2019 World Cup game at Chester-le-Street in Durham. Pakistan wasn’t one of the teams playing the game.

There are several other pictures of the singer holding the flag.

She looks so good!
Rihanna at the Cricket World Cup in England. 🏏 pic.twitter.com/t6klp9p8KQ

— Fenty Nation (@FENTYNATION_) July 1, 2019

Rihanna had also uploaded a picture on the day of the match where she is sporting a cap with the CWI crest.

 

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An image of singer Rihanna holding a flag with the Cricket West Indies crest was therefore morphed to falsely portray her raising Pakistan’s flag. Since Rihanna’s tweet supporting the farmers’ movement in India, members of the BJP have also attempted to falsely allude that the singer has a Pakistani link.