An interview that aired on Fox News on Tuesday (May 19) has baffled viewers as it appeared that a guest was wearing a realistic rubber mask of their own face.
Retired United States Navy SEAL Robert Harward appeared on America’s Newsroom with Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino on Tuesday, where he discussed President Trump’s ongoing war with Iran. While Harward explained his thoughts on the conflict, viewers became distracted by his neck, which many believed looked like the seam of a mask.
The video first came to light when a Reddit user shared a clip from the interview, writing, “Fox News guest today appears to be wearing a very realistic face mask.”
In the clip, Harward (69) appeared to have a gap in his neck just above his shirt collar. The video quickly garnered attention, with one Reddit user writing, “I’m need a rational explanation for this. Like now.”
Can anyone really explain this? Why does it look like Fox News put a man with a mask in their show?
The clip is from America’s Newsroom on Fox News featuring retired Vice Admiral Robert Harward discussing U.S. policy on Iran under Trump.
Fox News has claimed it’s a compression… pic.twitter.com/DxbiIJQvik
— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) May 22, 2026
“Did he just let someone use his likeness and say whatever on his behalf? Is he using just a neck cover for some reason?” said another. “I find it hard to believe they are just impersonating someone without them knowing given how big of a news network they are.”
Another wrote, “He is also missing a chin dimple that the real Robert Harward has.”
“What the actual hell is this nightmare?” asked one commenter.
DIFFERENT FACE SHAPE pic.twitter.com/4OFEfqthbW
— That’s .What .She .Said. (@THATSWHATSHESAI) May 22, 2026
“This is the first time I’ve seen one of these “they’re wearing a mask” conspiracy theories that I actually find believeable because that’s NOT natural,” said another.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if they just started interviewing AI,” added another.
“What in the Jim Carey have I just been looking at?” another quipped.
That motherfucker is NOT real! https://t.co/YluAu81dbd
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) May 22, 2026
“Either he’s wearing a mask or he had an emergency tracheotomy just before going to air,” said one commenter.
Others tried to offer rational explanations, with one Reddit user stating, “It’s the studio equivalent of a Snapchat filter or any filter that does skin smoothing. It gets used a lot, and for whatever reason hasn’t mapped correctly on this occasion.”
One X user shared similar sentiments, writing, “I think he’s using a filter to cover the wrinkly on his throat.”
“It might be a full face filter. I bet if he were to hold his hand in front of his face for a few seconds, the filter would glitch out,” said another.
Another explained that the “gap” on his neck could have been caused by a double shadow from a light and his shirt collar. While some bought that reasoning, others couldn’t quite see it.
“That is a very reasonable explanation and I don’t doubt that’s [sic] whats going on, but man no matter how hard I try I cannot see it as anything other than a mask,” wrote one viewer.
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Originally published on tvinsider.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.
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