Chris Evans clarifies that he signed ‘inert object’ for training, not bomb, in resurfaced photo

“The object I was asked to sign was not a bomb, or a missile, or a weapon of any kind," he wrote on Instagram.

Chris Evans is setting the record straight about a resurfaced photo.

After social media users erroneously claimed that he was photographed signing an Israeli bomb, the Captain America star shared a message on his Instagram Story Thursday clarifying that this wasn’t the case.

“There’s a lot of misinformation surrounding this picture,” Evans wrote. “Some clarification: This image was taken during a USO tour in 2016. I went with a group of actors, athletes and musicians to show our appreciation for our service members. The object I was asked to sign was not a bomb, or a missile, or a weapon of any kind. It’s an inert object used for training or display purposes only.”

The photo in question shows Evans using a Sharpie to sign a missile-shaped object in the hands of a smiling U.S. Air Force officer. Some social media users speculated that the object was a bomb that would be used to attack civilians in the Gaza conflict. Vocal progressive John Cusack even reshared the photo on X after he’d written, “Anyone who signs a f---ing bomb should be put in a mental institution  - For the criminally insane,” though it’s not clear if Cusack believed that the photo of Evans was related to Gaza.

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AFP Fact Check confirmed that the photo was indeed taken in 2016 on a military base in Turkey. Evans visited service members alongside his Avengers costar Scarlett Johansson and athletes like Ray Allen and Maya DiRado. An Air Force spokesperson told AFP that the object is “an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) inert training aid," explaining that “the object is meant to model an artillery shell and is for display and training purposes only."

The controversy comes in the wake of former North Carolina governor and presidential candidate Nikki Haley writing, “Finish them! America [heart] Israel always, Nikki Haley” on an artillery shell during a trip to Israel.

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The conflict in Gaza has killed over 35,000 since Oct. 7, prompting numerous protests around the world — including in Israel — calling for a permanent ceasefire in the area.

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.