Viral clip of “Anutin” with bruised eye after Ranong visit revealed as AI-generated image

Thai PBS Verify found the fake image from: TikTok

An image from the TikTok video of Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul with a visible bruise around his right eye

Thai PBS found the TikTok video features an image of Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Thai Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, with a visible bruise around his right eye. The post included the caption:

“Look at this condition. Even without anyone doing anything, heaven and earth are still providing this kind of ‘support’.” 

The post received 203 reactions, was saved and shared 7 times. It also accumulated 14 comments.

Is the image of Anutin’s bruised eye real?

When the team examined Mr. Anutin’s image with Google Lens, it was identified as an Google AI-generated image. The image is identical or very similar to news photos that appeared in 2021. 

Furthermore, when the image was analyzed using an AI detection tool called Wasit AI, the results showed a high probability that the image was AI-generated.

An image of the verification process identifying the image as AI-generated

An image from Wasit AI showing results indicating the probability that the image is AI-generated

How was Anutin hit with a drumstick?

Thai PBS Verify searched for the keywords “Anutin plays drums (อนุทินตีกลอง).” The team found that on February 15, 2026, Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, as Prime Minister, Minister of Interior, and leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, joined a parade to thank citizens in Ranong province who had voted for his party’s constituency and party-list candidates.

During the trip, he stopped to pay respects at the Tai Te Eia shrine and performed a ceremonial drum beating. Mr. Anutin and his wife had previously visited the shrine during the election campaign. While striking the drum, the drumstick recoiled and hit Mr. Anutin in the left eye. He was recorded saying, “Right in the orbit!” amidst cheers from supporters calling him “Prime Minister.”

After the shrine visit, Mr. Anutin and his group visited the tomb of Phraya Damrong Sujarit Mahisorn Phakdi (Khaw Su Chiang) before continuing his tour on a traditional wooden truck for several hours. He also stopped at his wife’s cafe, “Ja Ja Coffee,” to meet family and take photos with the public before returning to Bangkok immediately after completing his mission.

Compare real and AI photos with bare eyes

Thai PBS Verify compared the actual footage of Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister, Minister of Interior, and leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, striking the drum at the Tai Te Eia shrine, with the image shared on social media. The examination reveals that during the actual incident, the drumstick struck the left eye area, not the right eye as depicted in the viral image.

Comparison: the left image is an AI-generated image, while the right one is a photograph taken during a visit to pay respects at the Tai Te Eia shrine in Ranong province.

What is the truth?

Thai PBS Verify concluded that while the incident of Mr. Anutin being hit by a drumstick at the Tai Te Eia shrine had actually occurred, the specific image circulating on social media showing a heavily bruised eye was a fake one created by AI.

Impacts of the fake image

1. Impact on society and the public: since the “drumstick incident” was a real event (though the injury was likely less severe), the use of AI to exaggerate the wound makes it difficult for the public to distinguish truth from fabrication.
2. Impact on information systems: when AI images become indistinguishable from reality, the public may lose trust in all visual media, making official government communication significantly harder.
3. A possible tool for information operations (IO): the fake image may be used as social testing to gauge public reaction in preparation for larger-scale fake news campaigns in the future.