A disclaimer added to Kate Middleton’s video message announcing her cancer diagnosis has been explained by Getty Images amid a wave of conspiracy theories
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Princess Kate announces she is being treated for cancer
Getty Images has spoken out about a ‘disclaimer’ on a video of Kate Middleton announcing her cancer diagnosis, following a flurry of wild conspiracy theories. The Duchess of Cambridge shared the news in a pre-recorded message from Windsor Castle on March 22.
However, some eagle-eyed Royal fans noticed that Getty Images, who hosted the footage on their website, had added a disclaimer.
The note read: “This Handout clip was provided by a third-party organisation and may not adhere to Getty Images’ editorial policy.”
But Getty Images has now explained that this is standard practice and was a standard disclaimer for any footage given to them by a third party, according to The Independent.
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Some Twitter (now known as X) posts about the Getty video, related to Kate conspiracies, have been updated with notes from readers. One of these posts includes a message that reads: “This is a standard disclaimer that Getty Images uses when distributing video provided by a third party.”
The Palace has said that BBC Studios recorded Kate’s cancer announcement on March 20, and BBC Studios said: “BBC Studios filmed a message from the Princess of Wales at Windsor this week. We would like to wish Her Royal Highness a speedy recovery.”
Quassim Cassam, a philosophy professor at Warwick University and expert on conspiracy theories, said it’s common for such theories to be fuelled by evidence that actually disproves them. He explained: “They can’t be stopped because evidence against them is treated as part of the conspiracy. That’s why they are so resilient,” as per Birmingham Live.
Whitney Phillips, an assistant professor of digital platforms and ethics at the University of Oregon in the US, suggested that some social media users might be spreading these theories just for fun.
“The kind of rampant speculation that goes along with these sorts of theories can also be an entertaining mystery or distraction for participants, without much or any regard for the harm or distress this kind of speculation might cause for the people roped into the theory,” she said.
“The mainstream media has excessively propagated this narrative, and consequently, every single news outlet should now take responsibility, express regret, and offer apologies to Princess Kate and her family, and grant them the privacy they deserve,” said Joe Benarroch, head of business operations at Twitter.
