Many fake images claiming to show the Hollywood sign engulfed in flames appeared on social media shortly after the fires in Los Angeles, with some even generated by AI. Hany Farid, a media manipulation expert, notes that these illustrations were not only false, but also had some glaring errors, like misspellings that were almost comical. He encountered a dozen manipulated images while noting that the iconic Hollywood sign was completely unharmed amidst the chaos of the wildfires.
Jeff Zarrinnam, chair of the Hollywood Sign Trust, experienced the deluge of misinformation firsthand. He received numerous texts and emails asking about the status of the Hollywood sign when many people believed it was ablaze. However, Zarrinnam confirmed, while there was indeed a wildfire in nearby Runyon Canyon, the sign remained unaffected. He mentioned he had to reassure frantic inquiries, emphasizing, 'It is not on fire,' as the rumor spread across various media outlets.
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