Fact Check: Were Obama's guests forced to pay bills after he invited them to special luncheon?
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: A rumor has been circulating on social media platforms claiming that former President Barack Obama hosted a special luncheon for women in the neighborhood adjacent to his new Presidential Center, after which they were forced to pay the bill, sparking speculation. Let us analyze the claim and fact-check its authenticity.
Claim: Barack Obama refused to pay bill after hosting luncheon
According to a post that surfaced on Facebook, Obama hosted a special luncheon for women in the neighborhood adjacent to his new Presidential Library and stuck them with a bill for the food.
The post states that the former president, whose wealth is estimated at more than $240 million, invited residents to eat at a fast-food-style restaurant.
The post alleged that he spent five minutes giving a speech about saving Democracy from President Donald Trump, then he left.
"It was only $239," Group Coordinator Josephene Barron allegedly said, "But that's not the point. He invited us.
The post was accompanied by a photo of Obama at a restaurant speaking to a woman, along with a picture of the bill.
Fact Check: The claim originated from a parody account
The claim, however, is false, as there are no credible reports about Obama hosting a special luncheon and forcing the guests to pay the bill.
A search on Google for the claim yielded no credible reports by prominent news media outlets that support the claim, which, if true, would have been covered widely.
Also, the photo that accompanied the claim is not recent and is from last year.
Additionally, the claim was posted by a Facebook parody account called 'America's Last Line Of Defence,’ which describes in the bio as 'Nothing on this page is real.’ Hence, the claim was intended as satire made for the sake of engagement.
Obama Presidential Center opened in Chicago
The claim surfaced following the opening of the Obama Presidential Center, a museum, library, and education project in Chicago to commemorate the presidency of the Democrat.
On June 19, former President Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama surprised the first 100 visitors to walk through the doors of the new center.
The building includes a towering museum that covers the political and personal realms of the nation's first Black president and first lady, while public spaces include a branch of the Chicago Public Library, a playground and athletic center, basketball courts, and a picnic area with grills.
