A captivating image of a soot-covered Oscar amidst fire debris has gained immense popularity on social media, with speculation about its ownership, possibly linked to Robert Redford. While Oscars are designed to withstand high temperatures, questions arose regarding the authenticity of the image, leading to findings suggesting it may be AI-generated. Robert Redford’s team clarified that the statuette does not belong to him, and the Academy has offered replacements for any lost awards amid the devastating LA wildfires.
‘A powerful emblem of the enduring enchantment of cinema’, social media users are captivated by a striking image. Amid the scorched remains of a fire, a soot-covered Oscar lies almost unscathed, captured in a photograph that has garnered over 9,000 ‘likes’ on a French film news site’s Instagram account, and a staggering 200,000 likes on Isabella Rossellini’s account, the daughter of legendary actress Ingrid Bergman and director Roberto Rossellini. She shared that ‘her brother sent her this poignant photo he discovered.’ Some posts even suggest that this Oscar belonged to Robert Redford, who received the prestigious award for Best Director in 1981.
Understanding the Oscar’s Resilience
While it’s true that an Oscar can endure high temperatures, there are limits to its resilience. The statuettes are crafted from solid bronze and coated with a delicate layer of 24-carat gold since 2017. Prior to that, they were primarily made from britannium, a tin-copper-antimony alloy that melts at around 225 degrees Celsius. In contrast, bronze and gold have melting points of 1035 and 1064 degrees Celsius, respectively. Older Oscars also featured wooden bases, making them more susceptible to fire damage.
The discovery of this Oscar has left many users in awe, while others have speculated that the image might be a product of artificial intelligence, similar to other manipulated images circulating in relation to the fires in Los Angeles.
Examining the Image’s Authenticity
A reverse image search led the Verification team to a Reddit post from January 12 titled ‘Symbolism’, which showcased a broader version of the photo. This expanded image revealed discrepancies, such as a fence positioned above the statuette and a potential signature reading ‘Tius’ at the bottom. The base of the statuette, appearing stone-like, deviates from the typical Oscar design, which is usually composed of raw brass plated with black nickel.
Moreover, the lower right tibia of the statuette lacks the characteristic bulge found in genuine models. These features might indicate that the image was created using artificial intelligence, though there is no definitive proof of this.
This Reddit discussion thread has been closed due to the sharing of what was deemed an ‘AI-generated image’. However, the platform has not disclosed the criteria used to determine the image’s authenticity. The Verification team has reached out to the creator of the image for clarification on whether it was indeed a digital fabrication, but has yet to receive a response.
Clarification from Robert Redford’s Team
Representatives from Robert Redford have clarified that the Oscar in question does not belong to him. A spokesperson informed Entertainment Weekly, ‘He resides in Santa Fe [New Mexico, over 1300 kilometers from Los Angeles]; this is not his Oscar.’ The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has also announced, ‘Any Oscar winner whose statuette was lost in the fires can contact us, and we will be more than happy to replace it.’ However, the Verification team has found no evidence that any award recipient has reported the loss of their Oscar.
The devastating wildfires in Los Angeles have claimed at least 25 lives and destroyed over 12,000 homes, prompting the Academy to postpone the Oscar nominations to Thursday, January 23, and to delay the traditional nominees’ luncheon originally set for February 10.
If you have any inquiries or wish to share information that appears questionable, please reach out to us at [email protected]. You can also follow us on X, where our team is active under the handle @verif_TF1LCI.