CLAIM
A viral video on social media claims that a tree in France “sprouted” overnight in a car. The video shows that a tree is embedded inside a car, and is surrounded by many people.
Several social media users have shared the video on Facebook and Twitter with the same claim.
The Quint received a query about the claim made in the video via its WhatsApp helpline.
TRUE OR FALSE?
The claim along with the video is false. A tree did not “sprout” overnight in a car, rather it is an art installation by a street theatre company called Royal De Luxe in France.
WHAT WE FOUND OUT
We searched on YouTube using keywords ‘tree france sprouted overnight’ and a video uploaded on 19 November. A user’s comment on this hinted that it is an art installation by Royal De Luxe, which is a street theatre company.
The Facebook page of Royal De Luxe had uploaded a photo on 18 November which showed a tree inside a car.
Multiple users have uploaded the viral video with similar claims on YouTube. One of which is taken from a different angle and gives more clues. We matched different elements of the photo uploaded by Royal De Luxe on Facebook and the YouTube video.
The number plates of the car shown in both (highlighted in red), are same. Further, the shed of the building behind the car (highlighted in yellow), is same in both the visuals.
An article published by French news organisation Ouest France on 18 November carried the image of the tree coming out of the car and mentioned that it is from France’s Nantes city. The article is headlined as: ‘À Nantes un arbre pousse dans une auto : Royal de Luxe annonce son grand retour à Bellevue’ (Translated: In Nantes, a tree grows in a car: Royal de Luxe announces its big return to Bellevue).
Hence, an art installation by Royal De Luxe in France is being shared with a false claim that a tree “sprouted” overnight in a car.
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