A photo shared on X allegedly shows an article from The Guardian written by Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz about him dancing on stage naked.
I can’t unsee this… pic.twitter.com/8yWVUdnBoz
— Sara A. Carter (@SaraCarterDC) August 27, 2024
Verdict: False
This image has been edited. The article was actually written by a Swedish writer, not Walz.
Fact Check:
Vice President Kamala Harris and Walz are expected to have their first joint interview on Thursday as the pair are traveling through battleground state Georgia, according to CNN. This will mark the first time Harris has sat down for a full interview since President Joe Biden dropped out of the race, the outlet reported.
An X photo allegedly shows an article Walz wrote for The Guardian about how “dancing on stage naked” has been a way for him to bond with other men. The alleged screenshot follows The Guardian’s formatting, including a photo of the alleged author under the headline.
“Male bonding doesn’t have to be about bravado and bros,” the alleged article’s headline reads. “Dancing on stage naked taught me a better way.” It shows a byline with Walz’s name along with his headshot. Underneath this is the sub headline “Friendships based on sport and alcohol don’t always allow us to be our true selves. Shared vulnerabilities enrich our lives.” The alleged article is dated Aug. 26, 2024.
Walz did not write this article, however. Instead, it was written by Swedish writer Gunnar Ardelius, which can be seen on The Guardian website. Ardelius’ image was edited to show one of Walz and his byline was replaced with Walz’s name. (RELATED: Kamala Harris Claims Trump And Allies Will Implement Abortion Ban, Limit Birth Control Access If Reelected)
Check Your Fact has debunked other claims involving dancing politicians, including another one of Walz in which his head was edited onto the body of a dancing man wearing a cowboy outfit revealing his midriff. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron have also been the subject of such hoaxes.
Check Your Fact reached out to spokespeople for The Guardian and Walz for comment.