No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomePhotogateDid Johnny Araya's campaign drum up support... with Photoshop?

Did Johnny Araya’s campaign drum up support… with Photoshop?

Just two weeks before Costa Rica’s presidential elections, National Liberation Party candidate Johnny Araya’s campaign is in full swing, stopping Tuesday night for a rally in the provincial capital of Liberia, in Guanacaste. But a photo of the event posted the same night on Araya’s Facebook page set off a firestorm on social media, with critics alleging the photo is a fraud.

“Question, why does (the banner) say Tilarán?” asked one Facebook user. “Why are some filming with their cellphones in one direction while others film in another? Why do some look in different directions? Why are the light tones different for all the people in front if the photo was supposedly taken from the same spot? Why is it so pixelated? Why are some faces blurry?”

Whoever manages Araya’s Facebook page (could it be Don Johnny?) responded by spamming the comments section with a different version of the photo, this time with the “illuminating effect” removed and the following message:

I’ve read some respectful comments and others motivated by emotions far removed from the Tico’s way of being. Let’s not exchange peace for hate and the friendliness of the Tico for unfounded aggression. I will happily share the photo without illumination (an effect that improves the vision of a mass meeting and doesn’t alter the photo). There are some people who seek to destroy what no other movement can build. Good night.

(Johnny Araya Facebook page)
(Johnny Araya Facebook page)

But many of his Facebook followers weren’t convinced.

“They used Photoshop again!!!” responded one follower named Chester.

And of course, in the spirit of true Tico creativity, the memes weren’t long to follow.

(Joseph Ábrego Zuñiga)
(Joseph Ábrego Zuñiga)

So was it real or fake? One thing’s certain, if it wasn’t Photoshop, there must be plenty of other photos coming to debunk the Villaltalieber (sorry, Justin) myth.

Trending Now

Costa Rican Man Dies After Health Decline in U.S. Immigration Custody

Randall Gamboa Esquivel, a 52-year-old man from Pérez Zeledón, died after nearly two months in a Costa Rican hospital. His family confirmed the death,...

Costa Rica Expat Guide to Creative DIY Home Repairs

My family was recently cleaning up our backyard, tidying up the mass of branches that had been ditched on the property by the local...

Costa Rica Arrests Three in Murder of European Couple in Quepos

Authorities in Costa Rica arrested three people on Wednesday in connection with the killing of a European couple whose bodies turned up buried on...

Costa Rica Eliminated After 3-1 Loss to Morocco in FIFA U-17 World Cup

Our under-17 women's national team ended their FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup campaign on a tough note Friday evening, falling 3-1 to host nation...

Delta Partners with Starbucks for Unique Coffee Trip to Costa Rica

Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines has teamed up with Starbucks to offer a special travel experience that transforms a private charter flight into an airborne...

Second Phase of FIFA 2026 World Cup Tickets Launches

Fans across the globe now have another shot at securing seats for the FIFA World Cup 2026, as the organization opens the second phase...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica