Viral Justin Bieber burrito photo proven to be elaborate hoax

A photo seemingly shown Justin Bieber eating a burrito in a bizarre way that became a viral sensation earlier this month has been proven to be fake.

Yes Theory, a group of internet broadcasters, has released a video showing how they used a Bieber lookalike to stage the photo as an elaborate hoax.

The prank had Brad Sousa, a Canadian model who bears an uncanny resemblance of the 'Baby' singer, pictured in a fake paparazzi photo eating a burrito from the middle out - more like how someone would eat corn on a cob, or play a harmonica.

"Gotcha, Internet," Yes Theory says on a video it posted online.

"We wanted to prove a point - that staging a story, as goofy as it was, can be done much more easily than most people can imagine."

Behind-the-scenes footage shows the entertainers brainstorming the prank, then staging the fake Bieber photo along with a montage of the news coverage it subsequently received.

Celebrities including Chrissy Teigen chimed in on Bieber's apparent food faux pas, which became a Twitter Moment after generating widespread discussion on the social media platform.

Newshub.

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