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In a surprising twist to India’s recent election controversy, Brazilian hairdresser Larissa Nery has found herself at the center of a political storm—completely by accident and from over 9,000 miles away.
Nery became an unwitting figure in Indian politics after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition, displayed her photograph during a press conference, claiming it had been used across 22 different voter ID cards in Haryana state—each with different names and addresses. The revelation was presented as evidence of alleged electoral fraud.
Following Gandhi’s press conference, a video of Nery addressing the situation began circulating widely on Indian social media. However, the controversy has since doubled as the video spread with falsified translations, claiming Nery had criticized Gandhi as a “failed politician that lost nearly 100 elections in India” who was “using my old pics to amplify his lies and propaganda against the ruling party.”
A fact check by India Today has revealed this translation to be entirely fabricated. Using multiple translation tools including Happyscribe, Google Translate, and others, journalists determined Nery made no mention of any Indian politicians or political parties.
The actual translation reveals a much more straightforward message from the Brazilian hairdresser: “Guys, I’m going to tell you some gossip—you’re going to laugh so much. People are using an old photo of me. It’s an old photo, okay? I look super young in it—like 20, 18 years old. They’re using my photo for, I don’t know, an election or something you have to vote on. And in India. They’re saying I’m Indian to scam people, guys. Look how crazy that is. What kind of madness are we living in?”
She continued by explaining how a reporter had contacted her workplace seeking an interview, followed by finding her Instagram account after she initially declined to respond.
The incident highlights the increasingly complex landscape of misinformation in India’s highly charged political environment. With general elections in India often marked by fierce competition between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress party, such manipulated content can quickly spread through social media channels and messaging apps.
In subsequent statements to media outlets including The BBC, The Print, and NDTV, Nery has consistently expressed only surprise at her unexpected prominence in Indian news. “I have absolutely nothing to do with politics in India,” she clarified in another video. “My photo was purchased from a stock image platform and used without my involvement. It’s not me. I’ve never even been to India. I’m a Brazilian digital influencer and a hairdresser, and I love the Indian people.”
The misuse of stock photography in official documentation represents a significant concern for electoral integrity in India, which manages the world’s largest democratic election process. The Election Commission of India has previously implemented various technological measures, including biometric verification, to reduce fraudulent voter registrations.
This incident also demonstrates the global ripple effects of local political controversies in the digital age. What began as alleged voter fraud in one Indian state quickly became international news, affecting a private citizen in Brazil who had no connection to Indian politics.
For Nery, the experience has been surreal—suddenly finding herself known to millions in a country she has never visited, then witnessing her words being manipulated to fit into a political narrative completely foreign to her.
The spreading of such manipulated content raises serious concerns about election integrity and information warfare as India continues to navigate its complex democratic processes in an increasingly digital world.
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10 Comments
It’s a good reminder that we need to be vigilant about fact-checking claims, even when they seem to align with our own political leanings. Spreading misinformation, even unintentionally, can have serious consequences.
Interesting case of mistaken identity. It’s concerning to see how misinformation can spread so quickly, especially around elections. I’m glad the fact-check was able to clarify the true story.
It’s disappointing to see how easily misinformation can spread, even when the underlying facts are readily available. This highlights the need for media literacy education and a renewed commitment to truth-telling in journalism.
Kudos to the journalists for taking the time to thoroughly investigate this case and provide a clear, fact-based account. This is the kind of reporting we need more of in today’s polarized media landscape.
It’s troubling to see how political actors can manipulate information for their own gain. This underscores the need for strong journalistic integrity and fact-based reporting.
This story is a good example of why we should always question the sources and veracity of information, especially on sensitive political topics. Fact-checking is crucial to maintaining an informed and engaged citizenry.
Well said. We must remain vigilant and critical consumers of information, no matter the source or our own political biases.
This highlights the importance of verifying information, especially when it relates to political issues. We should be cautious about jumping to conclusions based on partial or unverified information.
Absolutely. It’s crucial that we rely on authoritative and reputable sources when it comes to sensitive political topics.
This case demonstrates how easily misinformation can spread in the digital age. I’m glad the journalists were able to thoroughly investigate the claims and set the record straight.