Claim: Image showing demonstrators dressed up as Pikachu and other iconic comic book characters during the ongoing protests in Turkey.
Fact: The image is AI-generated.
Massive protests erupted across Turkey on March 19, 2025, following the arrest of Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on charges widely seen as politically motivated. As a prominent rival of president Erdogan, Imamoglu’s detention has sparked widespread outrage, with citizens demanding justice and reforms. Now into the tenth day, the protests continue to grow, making them one of the largest movements in Turkey in over a decade.
In this context, a viral image has been circulating online purportedly showing protesters dressed up as Pikachu and other iconic comic book characters, such as Spider-Man, Batman, and the Joker.
A user on X posted this image and wrote, “Attending a protest in Turkey should be on everyone’s bucket list.”
Another user posted the same image on TikTok with a caption, “Batman, Pikachu, Joker, and Spider-Man protest in Turkey! You are all beautiful.”
This image is widely shared on X, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram. Posts can be seen here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.
Due to the viral nature and the controversy surrounding the image, we decided to check the authenticity of this claim.
Fact Check / Verification
We first conducted a keyword search using terms like ‘Turkey Protest,’ ‘Pikachu,’ and ‘protesters in different characters,’ and found some recent news articles sharing a video showing a protester dressed in a full-body Pikachu costume, walking through the streets on Thursday (27.03.2025), in Antalya, Turkey. The news reports can be found here, here, here, and here.
However, we did not come across the viral image in any news reports covering the protest, nor were there any references to demonstrators dressed as Batman, Spider-Man, or the Joker.
Additionally, we noticed that the viral image had a lack of clarity and detail in the characters, as well as a cinematic texture. To verify, we checked the image using different AI-image detectors and confirmed that it was created by AI.
Furthermore, we noticed that the photo was posted on Instagram on March 27, 2025, by computer and AI engineer Eren Fazlıoğlu. He also shared the photo on X on the same day, where he replied and clarified: “I believe everyone has an average level of intelligence, but let me clarify: The original footage, which was covered by the media in Turkey, only showed Pikachu running. This version is AI-generated and includes other characters for comedic effect.
Conclusion
The viral image showing Pikachu and other iconic comic book characters participating in the protests in Turkey is not real. It is AI-generated.
Result: Altered Media
Our Sources
HIVE Moderation: AI Image Detector
Wasitai: AI Image Detector
News article published by USA TODAY on March 27, 2025.
News article published by NDTV.Com on March 28, 2025.
News article published by TIMES NOW on March 28, 2025.
Instagram and X posts by Eren Fazlıoğlu, published on March 27, 2025.
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