Video of Taylor Swift calling California wildfires 'divine retribution' is fake

Kate Atkinson January 14, 2025
AAP FactCheck Feature Image Update 5 v3
The fake clip of Taylor Swift is doing the rounds on social media. Image by Facebook/AAP

WHAT WAS CLAIMED

Taylor Swift said the LA wildfires are “divine retribution” for US support of Israel.

OUR VERDICT

False. The video is a deepfake.

AAP FACTCHECK – A fake video clip supposedly showing pop singer Taylor Swift calling the Los Angeles wildfires punishment for US support of Israel is circulating on social media.

The deepfake appears to show Swift commenting on the LA disaster during a televised interview, calling the fires "God's punishment" and "divine retribution" for US support of Israel. A news channel logo is visible and captions in Arabic overlay the video.

Facebook post with fake video showing Taylor Swift discuss LA wildfireSocial media users have shared the fake clip, which was created from real Tonight Show footage. (X/AAP)

"For over a year and a half," she appears to say, "Gaza has endured relentless bombing by missiles financed through the taxes paid by American citizens.

"This brutal assault has caused immense suffering for Gaza's residents and left its infrastructure in ruins while the world remained largely silent.

"However, in just two days divine retribution struck the United States, as a natural disaster burned an area larger than Gaza itself …" The clip is being shared widely on social media.

"Listen carefully to what the international artist Taylor Swift said: 'America's fires are the result of its actions in Gaza,' one user captioned an X post.