Picture of former Mexican president and ‘Diddy’ is altered | Fact check
The claim: Image shows former Mexican president with Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs
[En Español: Foto de ex presidente mexicano y ‘Diddy’ ha sido alterada]
A Sept. 25 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) appears to show an old photo of former Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador standing next to music producer and rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs.
The post was shared more than 5,000 times in a week. A similar version of the claim was shared on X, formerly Twitter.
More from the Fact-Check Team: How we pick and research claims | Email newsletter | Facebook page
Our rating: Altered
The photo is digitally altered to include Lopez Obrador. The original picture shows former President Donald Trump with Combs in 1997 at a grand opening for Combs' New York restaurant.
Original photo included 'Diddy' and Trump
The post seeks to connect Lopez Obrador, also known by his initials, AMLO, with Combs, who was arrested in September and faces federal charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs, who has pleaded not guilty, remains in a federal detention center after being denied bail twice.
Fact check: Diddy edited into photo of Kamala Harris and Montel Williams
The original photo was taken in New York on September 30, 1997, when Trump and Combs were at the opening of Justin’s Bar and Restaurant, Combs' restaurant that has since closed. Ron Galella took the picture for Getty Images.
The image is cropped and Trump’s face and body were removed from the photo and replaced with Lopez Obrador's picture.Paste BN has debunked several false claims about Combs, including that a video shows him with Donald Trump talking about getting away with crimes, that a photo shows him with Vice President Kamala Harris and that a video shows Combs speaking from prison.
Paste BN reached out to the user who shared the post for comment but they did not provide evidence to back up the claim.
Univision also debunked the claim.
Our fact-check sources:
- Getty Images, Sept. 30, 1997, Grand Opening of Justin's Bar and Restaurant
Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or e-newspaper here.
Paste BN is a verified signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network, which requires a demonstrated commitment to nonpartisanship, fairness and transparency. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Meta.