AI-Generated Images of Dwayne Johnson 'Praying In Hindu Temple' Viral as Real

The photos were created by one Bhargav Valera who told The Quint that he used an AI-tool called Midjourney.
Rujuta Thete
WebQoof
Published:

Fact-check: The viral set of images showing Dwayne Johnson 'praying in a Hindu temple' are not real but AI-generated images.

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(Photo: The Quint)

<div class="paragraphs"><p>Fact-check:&nbsp;The viral set of images showing Dwayne Johnson 'praying in a Hindu temple' are not real but AI-generated images.</p></div>
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A set of three images showing Hollywood actor and former professional wrestler Dwayne Johnson, popularly known as 'The Rock', dressed as a Hindu priest carrying a prayer plate in his hands is going viral on social media.

The claim states that Johnson is embracing the Hindu culture by performing prayers inside a temple.

(Note: Swipe to see all the claims.)

(Archives of similar claims can be seen here and here.)

What's the truth?: These images are generated using an Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool named Midjourney by photographer and AI-artist Bhargav Valera.

How did we find out the truth?: We ran a reverse image search on the viral pictures and came across a Facebook post from 22 April.

  • The post was shared by Bhargav Valera, a photographer and an AI-artist.

  • It carried three same picture of Johnson which are going viral as real with a caption that states these are 'AI concept art'.

  • The Quint also reached out to Valera who confirmed to us that these images are not real.

  • "I created these images using AI-tool, Midjourney,"adds Valera.

What is Midjourney?: It is an AI-powered tool which can created realistic images suitable to the given prompts by the users.

  • We checked more AI-generated images of Johnson on Midjourney with similar commands and came across similar AI-generated images showing him dressed up in different attires.

  • (Note: Swipe to see all the screenshots.)

Several such AI-generated image have recently gone viral as real and The Quint's WebQoof team has debunked some of them here, here, here and here.

Conclusion: The viral set of images showing Dwayne Johnson 'praying in a Hindu temple' are not real but AI-generated images.

(Not convinced of a post or information you came across online and want it verified? Send us the details on WhatsApp at 9643651818, or e-mail it to us at webqoof@thequint.com and we'll fact-check it for you. You can also read all our fact-checked stories here.)

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