Digitally Altered Photo of Rowan Atkinson Circulates on Social Media
Executive Summary:
A photo claiming that Mr. Rowan Atkinson, the famous actor who played the role of Mr. Bean, lying sick on bed is circulating on social media. However, this claim is false. The image is a digitally altered picture of Mr.Barry Balderstone from Bollington, England, who died in October 2019 from advanced Parkinson’s disease. Reverse image searches and media news reports confirm that the original photo is of Barry, not Rowan Atkinson. Furthermore, there are no reports of Atkinson being ill; he was recently seen attending the 2024 British Grand Prix. Thus, the viral claim is baseless and misleading.
Claims:
A viral photo of Rowan Atkinson aka Mr. Bean, lying on a bed in sick condition.
Fact Check:
When we received the posts, we first did some keyword search based on the claim made, but no such posts were found to support the claim made.Though, we found an interview video where it was seen Mr. Bean attending F1 Race on July 7, 2024.
Then we reverse searched the viral image and found a news report that looked similar to the viral photo of Mr. Bean, the T-Shirt seems to be similar in both the images.
The man in this photo is Barry Balderstone who was a civil engineer from Bollington, England, died in October 2019 due to advanced Parkinson’s disease. Barry received many illnesses according to the news report and his application for extensive healthcare reimbursement was rejected by the East Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group.
Taking a cue from this, we then analyzed the image in an AI Image detection tool named, TrueMedia. The detection tool found the image to be AI manipulated. The original image is manipulated by replacing the face with Rowan Atkinson aka Mr. Bean.
Hence, it is clear that the viral claimed image of Rowan Atkinson bedridden is fake and misleading. Netizens should verify before sharing anything on the internet.
Conclusion:
Therefore, it can be summarized that the photo claiming Rowan Atkinson in a sick state is fake and has been manipulated with another man’s image. The original photo features Barry Balderstone, the man who was diagnosed with stage 4 Parkinson’s disease and subsequently died in 2019. In fact, Rowan Atkinson seemed perfectly healthy recently at the 2024 British Grand Prix. It is important for people to check on the authenticity before sharing so as to avoid the spreading of misinformation.
- Claim: A Viral photo of Rowan Atkinson aka Mr. Bean, lying on a bed in a sick condition.
- Claimed on: X, Facebook
- Fact Check: Fake & Misleading
Related Blogs
Executive Summary:
A widely circulated video claiming to feature a poster with the words "I Told Modi" has gone viral, improperly connecting it to the April 2025 Pahalgam attack, in which terrorists killed 26 civilians. The altered Marvel Studios clip is allegedly a mockery of Operation Sindoor, the counterterrorism operation India initiated in response to the attack. This misinformation emphasizes how crucial it is to confirm information before sharing it online by disseminating misleading propaganda and drawing attention away from real events.
Claim:
A man can be seen changing a poster that says "Tell Modi" to one that says "I Told Modi" in a widely shared viral video. This video allegedly makes reference to Operation Sindoor in India, which was started in reaction to the Pahalgam terrorist attack on April 22, 2025, in which militants connected to The Resistance Front (TRF) killed 26 civilians.
Fact check:
Further research, we found the original post from Marvel Studios' official X handle, confirming that the circulating video has been altered using AI and does not reflect the authentic content.
By using Hive Moderation to detect AI manipulation in the video, we have determined that this video has been modified with AI-generated content, presenting false or misleading information that does not reflect real events.
Furthermore, we found a Hindustan Times article discussing the mysterious reveal involving Hollywood actor Sebastian Stan.
Conclusion:
It is untrue to say that the "I Told Modi" poster is a component of a public demonstration. The text has been digitally changed to deceive viewers, and the video is manipulated footage from a Marvel film. The content should be ignored as it has been identified as false information.
- Claim: Viral social media posts confirm a Pakistani military attack on India.
- Claimed On: Social Media
- Fact Check: False and Misleading
Executive Summary:
Recently, a viral social media post alleged that the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (DMRC) had increased ticket prices following the BJP’s victory in the Delhi Legislative Assembly elections. After thorough research and verification, we have found this claim to be misleading and entirely baseless. Authorities have asserted that no fare hike has been declared.
Claim:
Viral social media posts have claimed that the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (DMRC) increased metro fares following the BJP's victory in the Delhi Legislative Assembly elections.
Fact Check:
After thorough research, we conclude that the claims regarding a fare hike by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (DMRC) following the BJP’s victory in the Delhi Legislative Assembly elections are misleading. Our review of DMRC’s official website and social media handles found no mention of any fare increase.Furthermore, the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of DMRC has also clarified that no such price hike has been announced. We urge the public to rely on verified sources for accurate information and refrain from spreading misinformation.
Conclusion:
Upon examining the alleged fare hike, it is evident that the increase pertains to Bengaluru, not Delhi. To verify this, we reviewed the official website of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) and cross-checked the information with appropriate evidence, including relevant images. Our findings confirm that no fare hike has been announced by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (DMRC).
- Claim: Delhi Metro price Hike after BJP’s victory in election
- Claimed On: X (Formerly Known As Twitter)
- Fact Check: False and Misleading
Executive Summary:
A viral post on social media shared with misleading captions about a National Highway being built with large bridges over a mountainside in Jammu and Kashmir. However, the investigation of the claim shows that the bridge is from China. Thus the video is false and misleading.
Claim:
A video circulating of National Highway 14 construction being built on the mountain side in Jammu and Kashmir.
Fact Check:
Upon receiving the image, Reverse Image Search was carried out, an image of an under-construction road, falsely linked to Jammu and Kashmir has been proven inaccurate. After investigating we confirmed the road is from a different location that is G6911 Ankang-Laifeng Expressway in China, highlighting the need to verify information before sharing.
Conclusion:
The viral claim mentioning under-construction Highway from Jammu and Kashmir is false. The post is actually from China and not J&K. Misinformation like this can mislead the public. Before sharing viral posts, take a brief moment to verify the facts. This highlights the importance of verifying information and relying on credible sources to combat the spread of false claims.
- Claim: Under-Construction Road Falsely Linked to Jammu and Kashmir
- Claimed On: Instagram and X (Formerly Known As Twitter)
- Fact Check: False and Misleading
