Dream Wired
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Celebrity
  • DramaAlert
  • Gossip
  • Movie
  • TV
  • Music
  • Comics
  • Shop
  • Home
  • Celebrity
  • DramaAlert
  • Gossip
  • Movie
  • TV
  • Music
  • Comics
  • Shop
No Result
View All Result
Dream Wired
No Result
View All Result
Home DramaAlert

Elijah Wood, other celebs unwittingly used in Russia propaganda campaign – National

rmtsa by rmtsa
December 8, 2023
in DramaAlert
0
Elijah Wood, other celebs unwittingly used in Russia propaganda campaign – National
74
SHARES
1.2k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


You might also like

How well did you know Ozzy? Take this quiz – National

Claressa Shields & Papoose Turn Heads With Fight Night Style

Tyler Perry Reveals He Helped Ryan Coogler Secure ‘Sinners’ Deal

Elijah Wood and a handful of other “unwitting” Hollywood actors and celebrities had videos of themselves altered as part of a Russian propaganda campaign pushing the narrative that Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy is a drug addict.

In a Thursday report, the Microsoft Threat Analysis Center revealed that seven celebrities were caught up in the campaign, including Priscilla Presley, Mike Tyson, Breaking Bad actor Dean Norris, The Office actor Kate Flannery, Scrubs actor John McGinley and System of a Down bassist Shavo Odadjian.

It appears the stars were solicited via Cameo — a platform where fans can purchase short videos recorded by their favourite celebrities — to film a video message for someone called “Vladimir,” pleading with him to seek help for substance abuse, the report states.

A representative for Wood confirmed that the Lord of the Rings star was contacted via Cameo.

Story continues below advertisement

“The request was submitted through Cameo and was in no way intended to be addressed to Zelenskyy or have anything at all to do with Russia or Ukraine or the war,” the representative said.

These innocuous Cameo videos were then taken out of context and doctored to make it seem like the celebrities were referring to Zelenskyy. The modifications included links to Zelenskyy’s social media accounts, emojis and “sometimes the logos of media outlets,” according to the report.

Screengrabs of some of the videos shared by the Microsoft Threat Analysis Center show a TMZ logo superimposed onto Wood’s video. It also appears that some of the videos were photoshopped to make it seem like they had been posted to the celebrities’ Instagram accounts.

Screengrabs of manipulated Cameo videos created by (L-R) actors Elijah Wood, John McGinley, Dean Norris and Kate Flannery.


Screengrabs of manipulated Cameo videos created by (L-R) actors Elijah Wood, John McGinley, Dean Norris and Kate Flannery.

Microsoft Threat Analysis Center

The reports says these doctored videos were “circulated through social media channels to advance longstanding false Russian claims that the Ukrainian leader struggles with substance abuse.”

Story continues below advertisement

In Wood’s video, viewed by WIRED, the Lord of the Rings actor says, “I just want to make sure you are getting help.” The altered video included a Ukrainian flag and links to Zelenskyy’s Instagram handle as well as a drug and alcohol research centre.

“I hope you get the help that you need. Lots of love, Vladimir, take care,” Wood says. Wired notes that the video had “several jarring cuts throughout.”

Microsoft says the videos started appearing in late July of this year.

Clint Watt, the general manager of the Microsoft Threat Analysis Center, told Wired that new videos would pop up in “regular intervals” throughout the summer and noted that the celebrities were all “saying a very similar script.”

Trending Now

‘You’re a predator’: Sentencing hearing for B.C. Mountie who broke trust, pursued teen

Selfie-taking tourists refuse to sit down, end up capsizing Venice gondola

A number of the celebrities named in the Microsoft report have come out to confirm the videos were manipulated.

“Kate unequivocally, 100% supports Ukraine and this has been very upsetting,” said a representative for Flannery, who played Meredith in The Office.

Presley’s representative said her video was “not intended to be addressed” to Zelenskyy, “or have anything at all to do with Russia or Ukraine or the war.”

A representative for Tyson said the “current videos being circulated are false. Mr. Tyson has zero involvement with providing information and creating such content.”

Story continues below advertisement

Both Wood and Tyson’s Cameo pages indicate the celebrities are “temporarily unavailable” for new videos.

NBC reports that the videos were shared widely on Russian social media, including VK and Telegram. The altered videos were also covered by state-owned Russian media outlets, Wired reports.

Cameo has declined to comment directly on the Microsoft report or whether it was investigating the propaganda campaign. It did say that this type of tactic to trick Cameo creators violates its community guidelines.

“In cases where such violations are substantiated Cameo will typically take steps to remove the problematic content and suspend the purchaser’s account to help prevent further issues,” a spokesperson stated.


Click to play video: 'Celebrities warn fans not to be duped by deepfakes'

2:09
Celebrities warn fans not to be duped by deepfakes


Previous Video

Next Video

&copy 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.



Source link

Tags: CampaignCelebsElijahNationalPropagandaRussiaunwittinglyWood
Share30Tweet19
rmtsa

rmtsa

Recommended For You

How well did you know Ozzy? Take this quiz – National

by rmtsa
July 28, 2025
0
How well did you know Ozzy? Take this quiz – National

The death of Ozzy Osbourne has generated more stories and attention than any other rock star’s passing since Bowie and Prince in 2016. The man, to put it...

Read more

Claressa Shields & Papoose Turn Heads With Fight Night Style

by rmtsa
July 28, 2025
0
Claressa Shields & Papoose Turn Heads With Fight Night Style

Claressa Shields and Papoose pulled out their flyest fits for her big fight against Lani Daniels on Saturday, July 26. The duo made a whole scene at the...

Read more

Tyler Perry Reveals He Helped Ryan Coogler Secure ‘Sinners’ Deal

by rmtsa
July 28, 2025
0
Tyler Perry Reveals He Helped Ryan Coogler Secure ‘Sinners’ Deal

Tyler Perry shared polarizing, eye-opening sentiments during a sit-down with twenty-time Grammy-winning artist Kirk Franklin, Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks founder Derrick Hayes, and rapper Jeezy on an episode of Den of Kings. Source:...

Read more

‘They’re Using Bully Tactics, So We’re Playing Chess

by rmtsa
July 27, 2025
0
‘They’re Using Bully Tactics, So We’re Playing Chess

Rymir Satterthwaite, the man claiming to be the son of JAY-Z, confirms he did drop his fraud case, in his larger paternity suit against the mogul—but it’s not...

Read more

Barry Bonds’ Record-Breaking Home Plate Hits Auction Block

by rmtsa
July 27, 2025
0
Barry Bonds’ Record-Breaking Home Plate Hits Auction Block

by Mary Spiller July 27, 2025 The home plate where Barry Bonds made baseball history by hitting his record-breaking 756th home run is now up for auction, giving...

Read more
Next Post
‘Love Story,’ ‘Paper Moon’ Actor Was 82 – The Hollywood Reporter

‘Love Story,’ ‘Paper Moon’ Actor Was 82 – The Hollywood Reporter

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Browse by Category

  • Celebrity
  • Comics
  • DramaAlert
  • Gossip
  • Movie
  • Music
  • TV
  • Uncategorized

CATEGORIES

  • Celebrity
  • Comics
  • DramaAlert
  • Gossip
  • Movie
  • Music
  • TV
  • Uncategorized
No Result
View All Result

Recent News

  • Celebrities Who Turned Down Peacock’s Traitors Spot
  • Drake Cancels UK Concert, Blaming Travel
  • Swiss Films at Locarno Film Festival 2025: Happiness, Dalai Lama

Copyright © 2023 DramaWired.
DramaWired is a content aggregator and not responsible for the content of external sites.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Celebrity
  • DramaAlert
  • Gossip
  • Movie
  • TV
  • Music
  • Comics
  • Shop

Copyright © 2023 DramaWired.
DramaWired is a content aggregator and not responsible for the content of external sites.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In