In recent days, the internet has been abuzz with images purportedly showing former U.S. first lady Michelle Obama during her pregnancies. These photos, which depict a glowing Michelle Obama cradling her stomach, have been widely circulated and have garnered significant attention. However, upon closer examination, it appears that these images may not be what they seem.
The viral images were first shared by an X user (formerly known as Twitter), @CharlotteEmmaUK, on September 21, 2023. The user captioned the photos, "BREAKING: Michelle Obama silences ALL conspiracy theorists and demands a universal apology after FINALLY releasing glowing pregnancy photos when she was expecting Sasha and Malia.” The post quickly gained traction, amassing over 1,000 likes, 924 re-tweets, and nearly 800K views.
The images in question show Michelle Obama in various outfits, each time holding her stomach and smiling at the camera. At first glance, they appear to be genuine photographs of the former first lady during her pregnancies. However, several signs indicate that these images may have been artificially generated.
For starters, one of the images appears to show Michelle Obama with six fingers on one hand, a clear indication of digital manipulation. Additionally, certain parts of the images appear deformed. When analyzed using AI-detection tools such as "AI or Not" and "Illuminatary," it was confirmed that the images were indeed generated using artificial intelligence.
This isn't the first time Michelle Obama has been the target of fake news or conspiracy theories. In the past, claims circulated suggesting that she is a transgender woman, leading to further unfounded speculations that the Obamas' daughters, Sasha and Malia, were conceived through IVF.
Michelle and Barack Obama have two daughters: Malia, born on July 4, 1998, and Sasha, born on June 10, 2001. Malia, a Harvard University alum, has shown a keen interest in the television industry, working on popular shows like "Girls," "Extant," and "Swarm." She also participated in the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020. Sasha, the younger of the two, attended the Sidwell Friends School before enrolling at the University of Michigan.
Given the prevalence of fake news and the ease with which images can be manipulated in today's digital age, it's crucial for the public to approach such viral content with a healthy dose of skepticism. Verifying information through credible news outlets is essential to avoid being misled by false narratives.