Clickbait creators are not above anything. In an “emergency” a leg is often retouched. But this photo is real – “just” stolen.

We received a request from an attentive user:

“-I have found this several times and think it is a fake photo. A long time ago I saw this woman somewhere with two legs.”

It's about this photo, which is shared several times on Facebook and is repeatedly posted on the Internet with a different story:

image

In just over a month, this picture has already been shared over 10,000 times and hardly anyone knows the true story behind this woman. It is almost grotesque how others enrich themselves with the photo of this talented artist, even if “just” with Facebook likes.

The photo is definitely real, and colleague Rüdiger from our “Image Forensics” department was also able to confirm this. No traces of manipulation could be found on the image material.

So who is this woman?

This is Neelam Dhungana. The one-legged dancer comes from Nepal and lives in Kathmandu. Yes, you read that right: one-legged dancer.

As an entertainer, Neelam of course runs her own Facebook page and has been interviewed several times and appeared in various television shows, such as the fifth Bindabasini Music Awards:

According to several Nepalese media reports , she lost her leg in a car accident when she was 15. This didn't stop her from continuing to dance.

Jukson website , she even makes it clear that her photo is being misused on Facebook. After Malia Obama, daughter of Barack Obama, mistakenly wished her a happy birthday:

“I am happy to reach this place and share this with the community there.
It's just sad how my image is used there. One site is using my photo to garner sympathy - that's sad. Even though it's not my birthday, my photo reached Malia Obama and she's happy for me, so I shared her reaction too. (*Translation by the editor)

Real photo but with fake story. But clickbait creators go even further:

Like baiting

a leg is often - or both arms.

Users are shamelessly emotionally blackmailed by these clickbait creators to boost their site. More likes, more shares, more interaction, better reach.

Nevertheless, this in no way justifies using other people's images, inventing a new story and thereby manipulating other people. You can find out more about this topic here .

Neelam Dhungana doesn't need any pity, she is fine and living the life she wants. She has a daughter and dances with all her heart, even with only one leg. In this way, she overcomes her stroke of fate, even without receiving pity on Facebook.

Result:

The photo of the one-legged woman is real.

She is a Nepalese dancer who has also appeared in many shows.

However, your photo will be used by others to collect likes. So if you come across the photo somewhere other than on Neelam's Facebook page and read a pitiful text, you have to assume that the photo is being used unlawfully.


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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )