New Delhi

British actor Rowan Atkinson, best known for his portrayal of Mr Bean is fine. In the last few days, a viral photo of the actor surfaced on social media which shows Atkinson looking severely ill and bedridden. The photo went viral in no time and sparked speculations about the veteran actor's health. However, fact-checkers have debunked the misleading image and called the news of his illness false. 

Advertisment

False claims and viral photo

The misleading photo depicted a frail and ill-looking Atkinson lying in a hospital bed. The image was widely shared on Facebook and TikTok and compared to an old photo of Atkinson from the 1990s, indicating that his present condition was not good. Fans reacted with widespread concern, fearing the worst.

A dedicated fact-checking team called Fact Crescendo, have debunked the photo. The team reportedly conducted a keyword search and found the claims to be false. 

Advertisment

They unearthed a recent interview from July 10, 2024, where Atkinson appeared at a Formula One race event, looking healthy and in good spirits. The actor, in the interview, showed no signs of illness. 

Origins of the Misleading Photo

As it turned out, the image was doctored. It first appeared in an article in The Mirror on January 31, 2020, and is attributed to an elderly man Barry Balderstone. The elderly man was severely ill and had refused free social care and died the next day.

Advertisment

The image is evidently altered digitally to make Balderstone resemble Atkinson. 

This isn't the first time that Atkinson has had to deal with fake news about his death. 

In fact, the hoaxes often target well-known personalities, creating unnecessary panic and concern among fans.