Fake photo spreads of Michael Bennett burning US flag

A photo is spreading that appears to depict Seattle Seahawks defensive player Michael Bennett burning the United States flag in the locker room.

The image is spreading at a time of controversy surrounding NFL players, many of whom have protesting against racial oppression by kneeling during the national anthem at the start of games.

However, this image is fake. The burning US flag has been digitally added to the image. The original images of Bennett and the US flag can be seen below. The image featuring Michael Bennett was taken during a 2015 victory dance in the Seahawks locker room.

The fake image was later picked up by fake news site TheLastLineOfDefense.org and used as the subject for a fake article headlined “BREAKING: Seattle Seahawks May Be Kicked Out Of NFL For What They Did In Locker Room”.

The image spreads only days after a viral Facebook post from a woman who saw Michael Bennett spending time talking to veterans outside the Seattle Seahawks training ground.