Recently, a claim emerged online that comedian, actor, producer, and TV presenter Steve Harvey fled the country in the aftermath of now-disgraced hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs’ recent arrest. It first surfaced on YouTube on September 25 and was uploaded by the page CELEB LIVE.
“FBI Hunting Steve Harvey After He FLEES The Country On Diddy’s ARREST Day!” the caption of the post read.
The video garnered severe traction online and in less than 24 hours earned nearly 965,000 views, over 11,000 likes, and more than 3,200 comments.
However, the now-viral claim has turned out to be fake as nowhere does the video substantiate that Steve Harvey escaped the USA or was in any way connected to Diddy’s arrest.
Not only that but the CELEB LIVE page that posted the video contains a disclaimer in its description which clearly states that their content might be “gossip, rumors, exaggerated, or indirectly beside the truth.”
Exploring Steve Harvey’s fleeing the country claim amid Diddy’s ongoing legal troubles
Earlier this week, a video on social media, starting from YouTube, claimed that Steve Harvey fled the country after Diddy was taken into federal custody. The video featured the headline “He’ll Be Arrested Next” with a photo of Harvey in an orange prison jumpsuit, which looked like a mugshot.
However, these claims are false. There are no verified reports of Harvey leaving the country or being linked to Sean Combs’ alleged criminal activities. The rumor about his potential arrest is unfounded, and the photo of him in jail clothes is computer-generated or AI-created.
Additionally, the viral YouTube video does not provide any information on Steve Harvey’s alleged arrest or fleeing from the country. Instead, it explores Diddy’s arrest and ongoing legal troubles, including news clippings, interviews of his lawyers, associates, and more.
Even in parts where the 18-minute-footage talk about Steve Harvey, that has nothing to do with Diddy but rather the former’s professional and personal life, such as his time spent on the show Family Feud to his alleged marital troubles. As such, all the rumors have turned out to be fabricated and unfounded, most likely for the purpose of sensationalism, parody, satire, or entertainment.
No major media outlets have also not substantiated any such claims mentioned in the video.
Notably, earlier this year, in June, CELEB LIVE posted a video claiming Steve Harvey was arrested “for involvement in crimes of co-host Shirley’s husband.” However, that too turned out to be fake. Also, in the wake of Diddy’s arrest, various videos on TikTok and YouTube surfaced claiming Jay-Z was arrested, fled the country, or his houses have been raided. Those too have been debunked.
Steve Harvey recently deleted an old tweet mentioning Diddy
Sean Combs was taken into federal custody on September 16 from a New York City high-end hotel on the charges of racketeering conspiracy, s*x trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution. The following day he was arraigned at Manhattan Federal Court where he was denied bail despite pleading “not guilty.”
“My brother @Diddy is doing a world of good for these kids,” he wrote back then.
Netizens shared mixed reactions about Harvey’s move and compared it to other celebrities who deleted/ deactivated their social media recently including Usher, Megan Fox, and Pink. While Usher later clarified that the temporary removal of tweets was a result of a hack, the rest have not addressed the matter.
