A Facebook (FB) video claims that Michelle Dee, the Philippines’ bet for the 2023 Miss Universe pageant, was rushed to the hospital days before the Nov. 18 coronation night. This is not true.
Dee has not figured in any recent accident nor was she brought to the hospital amid pre-pageant activities and rehearsals.
Uploaded on Nov. 8, four days after Dee arrived in El Salvador for the competition, the misleading video carried a headline that read:
“Buong kalagayan ngayon ni Michelle Dee,matapos isugod raw sa ospital sa El Salvador (Whole condition of Michelle Dee after she was rushed to a hospital in El Salvador)?”
Its thumbnail bore a photo of Dee wearing an oxygen mask along with the text: “Hindi na nga makakasali sa Miss Universe pageant? Pambato ng Pilipinas sa Miss Universe isinugod sa ospital (Will no longer participate in the Miss Universe pageant? Philippine bet to Miss Universe rushed to hospital)?”
In a Nov. 6 post on X (formerly Twitter), Dee denied that she figured in any accident while in El Salvador:
I [don’t know] where the rumor came from that I got into an accident but don’t believe it! We’re all good!
Source: MMD (@michellemdee) X post, Nov. 6, 2023
The photo used in the thumbnail was also not recent but was originally taken from Dee’s April 24 Instagram story after she went through surgery “due to hemorrhage and bleeding”.
While the video narrator quoted Dee’s denial of the accident at the 1:22 mark, several netizens fell for the misleading headline and sent their well wishes to the beauty queen in the comments section.
Dee will compete with delegates from 85 other countries for the 72nd iteration of the Miss Universe pageant. The Philippines has won the crown four times.
Uploaded by FB page Thats Showbiz Official Creator, the misleading video has garnered 252,000 views, 6,000 reactions, 525 comments and 80 shares.
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(Editor’s Note: VERA Files has partnered with Facebook to fight the spread of disinformation. Find out more about this partnership and our methodology.)
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