"We first used search engines such as DuckDuckGo and to locate possible evidence from credible sources about Russell's supposed statement and the boycott that followed. If the story was true, journalists with reputable news outlets, such as The Associated Press or Reuters, would have widely reported on it. That was not the case."
"The searches revealed that social media posts were the only sources spreading the rumor, and a Google reverse image search found a suspiciously similar claim whose only difference was that the supposed boycott targeted rapper 50 Cent instead of Russell. The rumor about Russell (and 50 Cent) was fictional."
"Running the image through Google Gemini revealed it contained a SynthID watermark, an additional piece of confirmation that it had been edited or created by AI. These types of AI detection tools are fallible. Snopes cautions people against using them for definitive answers on media's authenticity without supporting evidence."
In March 2026, social media posts claimed people were boycotting actor Kurt Russell for allegedly stating children should not watch cartoons with LGBTQ+ themes. Fact-checkers investigated using major search engines and found no coverage from credible news outlets like The Associated Press or Reuters. Russell did not appear on lists of celebrities making anti-LGBTQ comments. The same rumor circulated with rapper 50 Cent as the target, indicating a fabricated narrative. Image analysis using AI detection tools revealed the accompanying image contained a SynthID watermark, confirming it was AI-generated or edited. The claim was rated false.
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