No, Rihanna Was Not Holding A Pakistan Flag

Photo of Rihanna with Pakistan flag found to be morphed: After Barbadian pop icon Rihanna tweeted on the farmers' protest in India on February 2, a photo of her allegedly holding the flag of Pakistan went viral. The photo, showing the singer holding up the said flag at a stadium, was widely circulated by many social media users upon claims her tweet was part of a global conspiracy against India. 

A fact check shows the photo of Rihanna holding Pakistan's national flag is a morphed one. The

Look who's at #SLvWI to Rally 'round the West Indies!

Watch out for @rihanna's new single, Shut Up And Cover Drive 😉🎶 #CWC19 | #MenInMaroon pic.twitter.com/cou1V0P7Zj

— ICC (@ICC) July 1, 2019 photo, shared in 2019 by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Twitter, denotes a West Indies flag in the singer's hands, on account of a match between Sri Lanka and West Indies during the World Cup. Several videos of the singer posted by ICC also show her supporting the West Indies team at the 2019 match. 

Look who's at #SLvWI to Rally 'round the West Indies!

Watch out for @rihanna's new single, Shut Up And Cover Drive 😉🎶 #CWC19 | #MenInMaroon pic.twitter.com/cou1V0P7Zj

— ICC (@ICC) July 1, 2019

This is the morphed picture of Rihanna with Pakistan flag being circulated: 

Rihanna with farmers flag !!💯#IndiaWithModi#RihannaSupportsKhalistaniTerrorists pic.twitter.com/pPZ40wFORp

— Anuj Lawaniya (@Anuj21lawaniya) February 3, 2021

Fake Photo Of Rihanna With Pakistan Flag Goes Viral 

Following Rihanna's tweet, that remarked on the internet shutdowns and tight security measures surrounding the farmers' protest around New Delhi, a social media storm ensued with many netizens, including Indian political leaders, claiming she was part of an international plot to "defame" India. Her morphed photo with Pakistan's flag was used to further this theory on Facebook and Twitter. 

Greta Thunberg, the 18-year-old Swedish activist, has also been accused of similar charges after she expressed solidarity with farmers and released a protest 'toolkit' online. Read more here. In response to the young climate warrior's tweets, the Delhi Police has reportedly filed an FIR against her. Thunberg, supposedly unrelenting in her support, tweeted after news of the FIR emerged: "I still #StandWithFarmers and support their peaceful protest." Read more here.