A video circulating on social network (1, 2, 3) features Jonathan Van Ness, a hairstylist, actor, and representative of the LGBTQ+ community, standing behind the press secretary’s podium in the White House. According to the descriptions, he was appointed as the new White House Press Secretary to replace “black lesbian” Karine Jean-Pierre. Judging by the comments, a segment of social media users took this story as real.
The person who can be seen in the video speaking from the podium of the White House is one of the cast members of the reality show Queer Eye on Netflix, Jonathan Van Ness. On June 19, he and other actors were hosted by US Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House to discuss the progress the LGBTQ+ community has made over the past 20 years. Jonathan Van Ness was not appointed White House press secretary. During the visit, he gave a mock briefing in which he performed the role of press secretary.
On June 19, US Vice President Kamala Harris met with cast members of the reality show Queer Eye on Netflix. Among them was Jonathan Van Ness, who is seen in the video standing behind the podium. Information about this was posted by Kamala Harris on the X platform.
The US Vice President wrote that she discussed with the cast the hard-fought progress the LGBTQ+ community has made in the past 20 years. Jonathan Van Ness staged a mock briefing with him performing the role of the press secretary. He was not appointed as press secretary.
About the source:
The Facebook user, Георгий Кушиташвили, has also repeatedly spread disinformation in the past.
Grisha Mkrtchyan
Myth Detector Laboratory
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