Starting in July of 2023, pro-Russia social media channels, such as Cameo, were found spreading and sending misleading videos of American celebrities. These videos are said to be “deceptively edited to push anti-Ukraine propaganda” specifically attacking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Cameo is a social media platform where fans can request personalized video content or live calls from their favorite celebrity for a fee, which gained massive popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as exciting as it is to be able to receive individualized videos from celebrities like Mike Tyson, Elijah Wood, and Priscilla Presley, Russian propagandists have found ways to use it as a political advantage. Videos of these celebrities pleading with President Zelensky to get help for his alleged substance abuse were shared widely. These celebrities, however, claimed to be unaware that their content was being used to attack Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenski.
“Anything outside of his usual lighthearted cameo videos are being altered,” a representative for Mike Tyson added.
In one video recorded by Elijah Wood, who we know best as Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings, he says, “I hope you get the help that you need. Lots of love, Vladimir, take care.”
As these videos began to gain popularity, it was quickly tied to pro-Russia propaganda. Russia has long maintained misleading claims that President Zelensky and other Ukrainian leaders have been dealing with alcohol and drug abuse in order to gain support for their side in the war.
Russia has been increasingly using different methods to spread falsehoods about the war in Ukraine on social media, and this disinformation campaign reached at least 7.6 million people on Facebook alone. Cameo refuses to publicly comment on any of its ongoing Trust and Safety issues but added that the use of its content for Russian propaganda violates their community guidelines.
