Viral Photo of Kamala Harris Posing with Diddy in 2001 Proven Fake

Amid the serious allegations surrounding music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, a new rumor has placed Vice President Kamala Harris at the center of social media scrutiny. A viral image surfaced, allegedly showing Harris posing with Combs, who was recently indicted in a s*x trafficking case. However, the photo, widely shared across social platforms, has been proven to be doctored.

The false image gained significant traction when an X user, @Red_Pill_US, shared it with the caption, “The Diddy Client List goes all the way to the top.” The post quickly garnered attention, amassing around 1.5 million views and over 8,000 reposts. Many users, however, pointed out that the photo was edited, with the figure in the image not being Combs at all. Instead, the person next to Harris was revealed to be Montel Williams, the well-known talk show host.

💥The Diddy Client List goes all the way to the top💥 pic.twitter.com/VyCpNrpbEr

— Red Pill USA (@Red_Pill_US) September 17, 2024

In response to the confusion, community notes on the platform clarified the situation: “This is a digitally altered photo of Diddy’s head on Montel Williams’ body.” The original, unaltered image was later shared by another user, @Megsmom316, effectively debunking the rumor.

The original photo, as confirmed by a reverse image search, was taken at the Eighth Annual Race to Erase Multiple Sclerosis event held in Century City, California, in 2001. The image, part of Getty Images’ archives, shows Kamala Harris alongside Montel Williams and his daughter Ashley, at an event aimed at raising funds for multiple sclerosis research. Reports have also revealed that Harris and Williams dated briefly in the early 2000s, adding context to their appearance together.

That had been altered, that's Montels body pic.twitter.com/9wQfABfTL7

— Me, Myself &I (@Megsmom316) September 17, 2024

Despite the photo being debunked, many social media users had already criticized Harris based on the false narrative. The doctored image led to baseless allegations that Harris had a personal connection to Combs, which further fueled attacks from her political opponents.

Interestingly, the rumors were also exacerbated by a tweet Harris posted in 2020, where she thanked Combs for hosting a town hall event to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on racial inequality and health disparities. Some critics, especially supporters of former President Donald Trump, used this tweet to suggest a connection between Harris and Combs, who is now facing serious charges.

Thank you, @Diddy, for hosting this town hall last night. There's a lot at stake for our communities right now and it's critical we bring to the forefront how coronavirus is perpetuating racial inequality and health disparities.https://t.co/mPFYcIhsFD

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) April 10, 2020

As Combs deals with his legal issues, including allegations of abuse and coercion, the viral image linking him to Harris has been debunked. His legal team has attempted to secure bail with a hefty $50 million offer, which was denied, keeping him in custody until the trial begins.

Ultimately, the viral photo of Kamala Harris posing with Diddy was confirmed to be a hoax, and the real image is of Harris and Montel Williams at a charity event in 2001. The misleading post serves as a reminder of how easily misinformation can spread online.

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Shivam Kumar

Hi, I'm Shivam Kumar. I'm pursuing Journalism honors from the IP University. I love the skill of writing and looking forward to learn more of it. Also I love traveling and experiencing new things every day....