Fake Robert Irwin ‘arrest’ photos appear in Facebook scam – Australian Associated Press

AAP FACTCHECK – Maintenance worker Robert Irwin appears bloody and bruised in photos taken after his arrest, according to some social media users.

This is not true. The photos are manipulated versions of photos that the son of the late “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin posted on Instagram and there is no mention of an arrest.

The claim came in a Facebook post that included a photo of Irwin, apparently with a black eye and bruises, and a link to a news article with the headline: “Robert Irwin Was Arrested, But It Was Too Late — He Had Already Said Everything.”

Robert Irwin, son of the late conservationist Steve Irwin, has not been arrested.

“Tim McDonald commented on Robert Irwin’s words: ‘Revealing information on this scale live is absolutely madness; these words have the potential to turn the financial foundations of Australian society upside down,'” the caption reads.

The post also includes a screenshot of the video with an overlay that reads: “The entire country is in shock after yesterday’s news. Robert Irwin has said goodbye to his normal life.

The same statement appeared in another Facebook post, using a different photo of Irwin.

However, a reverse Google image search reveals that the photos used in the posts are doctored versions of photos posted by the conservationist on his own Instagram account here and here .

Channel 10 host Tim McDonald interviewed Irwin for the TV show The Cheap Shots in 2023, but video footage of the segment shows they did not discuss the financial system.

In fact, Irwin’s only “confession” during the interview was that he is not a fan of wombats.

Robert Irwin wasn’t talking about the financial system, he was talking about his wombat problems.

There are no media reports of Irwin’s arrest.

Queensland Police reported AAP Fact Check While they couldn’t look up specific cases due to privacy concerns, there were no verified reports of his arrest.

In recent weeks, false reports of Irwin’s arrest have circulated online, likely as part of a cryptocurrency scam.

Australia’s National Anti-Fraud Center has warned that fake news and the use of celebrities are often a tool to lure people into cryptocurrency scams.

Verdict

The claim that the photos show a bloody and bruised Robert Irwin following his arrest is false.

The images are manipulated photos from his own Instagram account.

FALSE – this claim is false.

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