A video manipulated to make it appear as if Joe Biden were sleeping during a TV interview is being condemned by, of all people, Harry Belafonte.
White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino posted a faked video Sunday night on Twitter that showed the former vice president appearing to be sound asleep and snoring as an interview was set to begin.
However, the video is faked, with Biden’s face digitally place on Belafonte’s body, according to CBS Sacramento anchor John Dabkovich, who said he was in the studio when the interview took place.
A YouTube clip of the original Belafonte interview shows the footage used for Scavino’s manipulated tweet took place in October 2011. The interviewer can be heard referring to “Harry.”
Although Twitter has labeled Scavino’s tweet as “manipulated media,” it remains on the site.
HuffPost reached out to Scavino for comment, but he did not immediately respond.
Many Twitter users have condemned Scavino’s stunt, but none more forcefully than singer and actor Belafonte, who has long fought for civil rights.