Fact Check: Did Marjane Satrapi Falsely Criticize Persian New Year Traditions?
A viral video circulating on social media claims that Persepolis author Marjane Satrapi condemned Nowruz celebrations as "oppressive" and "culturally backward." The clip shows a woman who resembles Satrapi making these statements, but it is completely fake. Reverse image searches reveal the audio was AI-generated and lip-synced to an old interview from 2018 where she discussed art censorship. Satrapi has not publicly commented on Nowruz, and her representatives confirmed the video is a deepfake. The real Satrapi, a celebrated graphic novelist and filmmaker, has actually praised Persian culture in past interviews. Watch out for manipulated content targeting cultural figures—always verify before sharing.