An image shared on Facebook claims The Guardian purportedly published an opinion piece written by Dr. Shola Mos-Shogbamimu labeling afternoon tea as “steeped in racism and white privilege.”

Verdict: False

The claim is false. Mos-Shogbamimu shared a post on her verified Facebook page indicating the image is fake. A spokesperson for the outlet also confirmed the image is fake in an email to Check Your Fact.

Fact Check:

The U.K. is experiencing shortages of Black Tea amid attacks from the Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, according to CBC News. Shipping companies have been forced to “stall or redirect their trade routes” because of the attacks, the outlet reported.

The Facebook image purports to show an opinion piece from The Guardian written by Mos-Shogbamimu labeling afternoon tea as “steeped in racism and white privilege.” The headline also claims afternoon tea “should be banned” as a result.

The claim is false, however, as Mos-Shogbamimu shared a post on her verified Facebook page indicating the image is fake.

“I didn’t say nor do I think this. The unwashed & unmoisturized are outraged at me on basis of ‘but it’s something she could’ve said’ – Lord pls save us from obese stupidity,” Mos-Shogbamimu’s statement read in part. The word “FAKE” also appeared written on the image in red text.

Likewise, the purported headline neither appears on The Guardian’s website nor its verified social media accounts. Additionally, Check Your Fact found no credible news reports to support the claim. In fact, the opposite is true. Full Fact and Logically Facts both debunked the claim as false.

Furthermore, a closer look at the Facebook image immediately draws its legitimacy into question. Instead of “The Guardian,” the phrase, “The Grauniad,” an obvious typo, appears. (RELATED: Video Does Not Show ‘Mass Immigration’ In The U.K.)

Fake headlines from The Guardian have falsely been attributed to Mos-Shogbamimu in the past.

A spokesperson for The Guardian confirmed the image is fake in an email to Check Your Fact.

“The screenshot shared has never been an article or headline published by the Guardian. Shola Mos-Shogbamimu has herself confirmed this is a fake image in this social media post,” the spokesperson said, referencing an X post that Mos-Shogbamimu made responding to the claim.