Does a video posted on X authentically show New York Gov. Kathy Hochul unable to open her left eye? No, that's not true: Lead Stories traced the clip back to its original version on YouTube, which showed Hochul with both eyes open and blinking normally while recording a public service announcement for the COVID-19 vaccine. The video was digitally altered.
A version of the claim originated in a post on X on September 4, 2024, (archived here) with a caption that read:
A Lunatic giving 'Vaccine Advice'. Wtf is wrong with your eye? Lol 🤡
Here is how the post appeared at the time of writing:
(Source: X screenshot taken Thu Sept 5 07:15:39 2024 UTC)
The video in the post on X was digitally altered.
A Google keyword search (archived here) returned the original clip, which Hochul shared on YouTube on September 4, 2024 (archived here). In the video, it's clear that both of Hochul's eyes are open and blinking.
The video, titled "Governor Hochul Delivers a PSA on the COVID-19 Vaccine," included the below description:
The new COVID-19 vaccine is available to New Yorkers now. I got my shot, and you should too! It's the best way to protect your family and community.
Talk to your health care provider, contact your pharmacy, or go to http://vaccines.gov.
In the altered version of the video that was posted on X, a text overlay on the bottom right corner reads "DILLEY MEME TEAM," a content creation website that Lead Stories has fact checked before. Dilley Meme Team (archived here) is described on its "About" page (archived here) as:
You know who we are, it's why you're here. The Dilley Meme Team brings tears of joy to those we love and tears of REEEEE to those we despise. WE'RE THE TIP OF THE SPEAR, AND WE'RE TAKING IT ALL BACK!
Known as Trump's Online War Machine, our content generates millions and millions of views. Often shared by the man himself, and played at the rallies, we've been fighting fake narratives of the commies and fascists for years - BY ANY MEMES NECESSARY.
The Dilley Meme Team is headed by podcaster and self-described "master troll" Brendan Dilley. A website for The Dilley Show podcast (archived here) also describes the Dilley Meme Team as being:
... an extraordinary collective of creators, armed with an unrivaled sense of humor and a burning passion for engaging in the political discourse of our time. Everyday, they take on the daunting task of challenging their opponents through the power of memes, humorously dissecting political ideologies and shedding light on the absurdities that surround us.
Other Lead Stories fact checks involving political figures can be read here.
