Univision recently addressed a widespread misconception regarding Vice President Kamala Harris’s use of a teleprompter during a town hall.
The claim, propagated by several right-wing commentators, was swiftly debunked by Univision officials.
The confusion began when a 12-second clip was shared online, suggesting Harris relied on a teleprompter during her town hall.
This narrative was amplified by figures such as Benny Johnson, Charlie Kirk, and Sean Hannity, who have large followings on social media.
Enrique Acevedo, the moderator of the town hall, clarified that the teleprompter displayed his introduction in Spanish, switching to a timer afterwards.
Acevedo stated, “.The prompter displayed my introduction (in Spanish) and then it switched to a timer. Any claim to the contrary is simply untrue.”
Daniel Coronell, President of Univision News, confirmed that the teleprompter was intended for the moderator.
He added that the text was in Spanish and served as a support tool, discrediting claims against Harris.
Coronell emphasised, “.That’s not true. The teleprompter that displays a text written in Spanish was a support element for the town hall moderator.”
Despite corrections, the original posts by Johnson, Kirk, and Price remained widely visible online.
Hannity, however, chose to delete his inaccurate post following the counter-claims.
The persistence of these posts highlights the challenges of misinformation control in digital spaces.
Former President Donald Trump has often criticised Harris, questioning her ability to speak without prepared scripts.
Comments about teleprompter use are part of a broader narrative employed by Trump to undermine Harris’s credibility.
His campaign shared the clip without explicit claims, allowing supporters to draw their own conclusions.
Social platforms like X (formerly Twitter) facilitate rapid dissemination of claims, sometimes before verification.
This incident underscores the necessity for media literacy and critical consumption of online information.
Univision’s prompt clarification played a crucial role in dispelling misinformation.
The episode highlights the importance of verifying facts before sharing content, especially in politically charged contexts.
Ultimately, the episode serves as a reminder of the influence of social media in shaping public narratives.
Verification and accountability remain key in maintaining factual integrity in public discourse.
