Fact-checkers clarify that the video circulating online is a manipulated deepfake, misrepresenting the Minnesota Governor.
Published: October 26, 2024
Image courtesy of Screenshot via X
Claim: A video circulating online purports to show Vice Presidential candidate Governor Tim Walz enthusiastically dancing to Beyoncé’s hit song “Texas Hold ‘Em.” The clip depicts an individual in a leather crop top, leather pants, and a red cowboy hat, resembling Walz.
Rating: Fake
Context: The video is a digitally manipulated fabrication. Tim Walz is not the person dancing in the footage. The viral clip is an edited version of an existing video where Walz’s face has been superimposed onto the original dancer’s body.
In early September 2024, as the US presidential election season intensified, a video surfaced on social media platforms like TikTok and X, igniting a wave of reactions. The video aimed to depict Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Tim Walz engaged in an energetic dance performance to Beyoncé’s popular track, “Texas Hold ‘Em.” The dancer was dressed in a distinctive outfit: a leather crop top, leather pants, and a red cowboy hat. The video caption amplified the sensational nature of the claim, questioning Walz’s image with phrases like “VP candidate Walz of the ‘free world’ OMFG… Help us…”
However, investigations by fact-checkers have revealed that this viral video is not authentic. It is a manipulated piece of media, a deepfake. The person in the video is not Tim Walz. The video was created by digitally altering an original dance video and superimposing Governor Walz’s face onto the dancer. This act of digital manipulation intends to mislead viewers and spread misinformation.
To uncover the truth behind the video, reverse image searches were conducted. These searches quickly led to the original, unedited video. The original footage features a dancer named Matthew Krumpe, a drag artist who regularly posts dance content on his Instagram account. The authentic video, posted in February 2024, predates Tim Walz’s nomination as Vice Presidential candidate. It showcases Krumpe performing the same dance moves, to the same Beyoncé song, in the same outfit and setting – but without any facial blurring or digital manipulation.
Matthew Krumpe himself confirmed that the viral video misappropriated his original content. His initial Instagram post of the dance video carried a lighthearted caption: “This ain’t Texas, and if anyone walks into my shot again im quitting making content and jumping off this boat.” In response to the deepfake using his video, Krumpe expressed dismay at the negative intentions behind the manipulation. He stated, “The fact that people are using a video that promotes happiness and joy to try and insinuate that Tim is unfit for office is so ridiculous.”
The emergence of this deepfake video highlights the growing issue of misinformation in the digital age, particularly during political campaigns. By taking a video meant to express joy and dance and twisting it into a fabricated political narrative, malicious actors demonstrate the potential for online manipulation. This incident serves as a reminder to critically evaluate online content, especially viral videos, before accepting them as truth. It underscores the importance of relying on credible fact-checking sources to verify information and avoid falling prey to disinformation campaigns.
Sources
Evon, Dan. “Snopes Tips: A Guide To Performing Reverse Image Searches.” Snopes, 22 Mar. 2022, https://www.snopes.com//articles/400681/how-to-perform-reverse-image-searches/. Accessed 10 Sept. 2024.
“Harris Introduces New Running Mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as the ‘Vice President America Deserves.'” AP News, 6 Aug. 2024, https://apnews.com/article/harris-running-mate-philadelphia-rally-multistate-tour-02c7ebce765deef0161708b29fe0069e. Accessed 10 Sept. 2024.
“Kamala Harris Launches Her Campaign for President.” Kamala Harris, 25 July 2024, YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHky_Xopyrw. Accessed 10 Sept. 2024.
By Nur Ibrahim
Nur Nasreen Ibrahim is a reporter with experience working in television, international news coverage, fact checking, and creative writing.
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