The claim: A Sudanese model holds a record for having the darkest skin color
A model's dark complexion has led social media users to proclaim that she holds a record.
“Sudanese model Nyakim Gatwech entered the Book of Records as the person with the darkest skin color,” said an April 27 Facebook post that got more than 160 shares in less than two days.
But no records under Gatwech’s name appear in Guinness World Records’ online search. The world’s leading record-keeping authority – which was previously called the Guinness Book of Records – has said it keeps no such record, and Gatwech has also denied the claim.
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USA TODAY reached out to the user who shared the claim for comment.
Variations of the rumor have spread on social media for years
The claim about Gatwech has circulated on social media numerous times over the years.
Guinness World Records debunked it in April 2020, writing in a tweet that it “does not monitor records for skin tone.” It replied to a Twitter user with a similar statement in May 2020.
But the claims continued to spread.
Another version appeared on Facebook in late May 2020, according to Factly . AFP Fact Check debunked the claim again in December 2021. Check Your Fact ruled that another iteration of the claim was false in February.
The claim ignited controversy in February when the chair of Columbia University’s psychiatry department responded to a tweet...
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