Fact Check

Real Mugshot of Amy Winehouse?

An alleged arrest mugshot of the late singer was featured on numerous posters sold online.

Published June 29, 2024

 (X user @pop_archives)
Image courtesy of X user @pop_archives
Claim:
A black-and-white image shared online in June 2024 was a real police mugshot of singer Amy Winehouse.

On June 24, 2024, an X thread supposedly listing "the most iconic celebrity mugshots" included an image of Amy Winehouse. As of this writing, the post allegedly showing the mugshot of the late pop singer had reached more than 474,000 views and 4,100 likes. 

(X user @pop_archives)

The photograph was also shared on Pinterest, and was featured in posters sold via online marketplaces such as Amazon, Etsy and eBay

Because the image was not an authentic mugshot of Amy Winehouse, and the singer's photograph was edited to resemble a mugshot, we have rated this claim as "Fake."

TinEye reverse image search results showed that the fake mugshot was likely created using a genuine photograph of Winehouse.

(TinEye)

A comparison of the mugshot and an authentic photo of Winehouse revealed that the latter, shown on the right, had been manipulated to create the fake mugshot, seen on the left.

(X user @pop_archives, Mischa Richter, www.rollingstone.com)

The original photograph was taken by Mischa Richter during a photoshoot for Winehouse's "Back to Black" album cover.

This isn't the first time we have investigated a viral mugshot of a celebrity. For instance, in April 2024, we looked at viral photos allegedly showing Marilyn Monroe mugshots

Sources

Kasprak, Alex. "These Photos Show Marilyn Monroe's Mugshot?" Snopes, 8 Apr. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/marilyn-monroe-mugshot/.

Malone, Theresa, and Interview by Theresa Malone. "Amy Winehouse Posing for Back to Black – Mischa Richter's Best Photo." The Guardian, 19 Sept. 2013. The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2013/sep/19/amy-winehouse-mischa-richter-photograph.

Reed, Ryan. "Amy Winehouse Foundation Plots 'Back to Black' Covers Contest." Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2016, https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/amy-winehouse-foundation-plots-back-to-black-covers-contest-115330/.

Aleksandra Wrona is a reporting fellow for Snopes, based in the Warsaw area.