Claim: The Image Alleging ‘The Simpsons’ Predicted Police Investigation of Diddy
A Facebook post from March 27 features an image that appears to depict a man in a pink suit fleeing from law enforcement, accompanied by a caption asserting the infallibility of “The Simpsons” in its predictions. The post garnered over 1,000 shares within a week, with commenters identifying the pink-clad character as the rapper and music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Rating: Altered
It has been confirmed that the image is a product of generative AI and does not originate from “The Simpsons.” Contrary to the implications of the image, there was no such prediction regarding Combs’ involvement in a police investigation within the show. Both the creator of the image and an expert in generative AI have verified its inauthenticity.
Notable Details for Identifying Generated Images
Amidst ongoing civil lawsuits alleging sexual assault and other offenses against Combs, federal authorities conducted raids on properties linked to him in Miami and Los Angeles on March 25 as part of a sex trafficking inquiry. Combs, while refuting the accusations in an Instagram post, has not been arrested. Despite the arrest of a former associate, sightings place Combs in South Florida around the time of the raids.
Fact Check: Images Depicting Diddy’s Arrest Are AI Fabrications
The claim that “The Simpsons” foresaw Combs’ legal troubles is unfounded.
The initial dissemination of the image portraying the man in a pink suit evading law enforcement can be attributed to DJ Skandalous, also known as Kevin Rivera, an artist, producer, and DJ. Rivera, who utilizes AI to craft art on social media, clarified that the image was AI-generated and intended as a jest. He emphasized the dual nature of AI as both a valuable tool and a potential hazard.
While Rivera utilized Bing Image Creator to generate the image based on Combs’ characteristics, discernible discrepancies indicate its artificial nature. For instance, certain features like the blurred eyes of two officers in the background serve as telltale signs of fabrication.
James O’Brien, a computer science professor at the University of California, Berkeley, highlighted additional inconsistencies within the image, such as spatial anomalies and superior resolution compared to authentic “Simpsons” frames.
“The Simpsons” has frequently been erroneously credited with prophetic abilities, a notion refuted by former showrunner Bill Oakley, who attributed the perceived predictions to satirical depictions of historical events.
Sources for Fact-Checking:
- Kevin Rivera, Communication via Facebook messenger with USA TODAY
- James O’Brien, Email correspondence with USA TODAY
- @diddy, Instagram post dated December 6, 2023
- TMZ, Coverage of Diddy’s activities following federal raids on March 25
- CBS Miami (YouTube), Surveillance of Diddy in South Florida amidst allegations and investigations
- Reuters, Interview with Bill Oakley addressing predictive claims related to “The Simpsons”
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