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Fact check: What was the context of Karoline Leavitt's 'sit down, boy' comment?

Checked on June 21, 2025

1. Summary of the results

The analyses reveal that Karoline Leavitt never made a "sit down, boy" comment to Burkina Faso President Captain Ibrahim Traoré. Multiple fact-checking sources confirm this incident is entirely fabricated [1]. The alleged interaction was created through AI-generated videos that circulated on social media platforms including TikTok and YouTube [1] [2].

The fact-checkers found that these videos appeared scripted and used AI-generated visuals, narration, and sequencing [2]. Crucially, there is no credible evidence that Leavitt ever spoke to Traoré or even met him [2]. The sources consistently describe the videos as lacking any legitimate documentation or verification.

Interestingly, the analyses also reveal a separate, unrelated claim involving Leavitt allegedly telling actor Denzel Washington to "sit down, boy" [3], suggesting a pattern of similar fabricated content targeting the White House Press Secretary.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question assumes the comment actually occurred, when the evidence shows it was completely fabricated. The analyses reveal several important contextual elements:

  • AI-generated disinformation campaigns are actively targeting high-profile political figures like Leavitt [1] [2]
  • Multiple fabricated incidents are being created using similar "sit down, boy" phrasing, suggesting a coordinated effort to damage Leavitt's reputation [3]
  • Social media platforms are being used as primary distribution channels for these fake videos [1]

The analyses don't explore who might benefit from spreading such disinformation, but political opponents, foreign actors seeking to undermine U.S. diplomatic relations, or those seeking to create racial tensions could potentially gain from such fabricated content going viral.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question contains a fundamental false premise by asking for "context" of a comment that never occurred. This framing could inadvertently spread misinformation by:

  • Legitimizing a fabricated incident by treating it as factual
  • Perpetuating AI-generated disinformation that fact-checkers have already debunked [1]
  • Contributing to the viral spread of content designed to damage diplomatic relations or create controversy

The question's phrasing suggests the incident happened, when multiple sources confirm it was entirely created through artificial intelligence [2] [1]. This demonstrates how easily fabricated content can become accepted as reality when people don't verify claims before discussing them.

Want to dive deeper?
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