Recently, a claim has been circulating across social media platforms, alleging that Iranian police killed American actress Jenna Ortega during recent unrest in Iran. However, our review finds that the claim is false.
Social Media Posts
Posts spreading the claim typically assert that Jenna Ortega was killed by Iranian police. One post on X with this claim has garnered over 2 million views.
Source | Archive Source | Archive
Fact Check
Jenna’s Public Activity
One of the clearest indicators that the claim is false is Ortega’s continued public activity. On January 28, 2026, she posted Instagram Stories expressing opposition to ICE enforcement actions and amplifying content highlighting the humanitarian impact of immigration enforcement in the United States, including Los Angeles-related cases.
Source: Jenna Ortega Updates | Archive
This activity occurred after the claim of her alleged death had already begun circulating online, directly contradicting the narrative. Ortega also appeared at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25 for the premiere of The Gallerist.
Jenna Ortega also spoke out against ICE violence at the Sundance Film Festival. Ortega called the situation devastating and horrifying. She welcomed the public outcry but criticised the lack of accountability for the officers involved. She urged officials to stop the violence and noted the difficulty of attending a film event while such disturbing events were unfolding.
Her public presence, professional work, and verified social media accounts show no interruptions.
Ortega’s Public Positions and Why Her Image Was Targeted
Ortega is publicly known for progressive political positions, including support for immigrant rights, Palestinian civilians, and criticism of U.S. immigration enforcement. In interviews with Vanity Fair, she has spoken about using her platform to highlight humanitarian issues and has criticised political rhetoric she views as dehumanising. In 2025, she also publicly condemned ICE raids in Los Angeles, urging followers to remain attentive and vocal.
Celebrities with visible political stances are sometimes featured in misinformation campaigns, as their images are widely recognised and may generate greater engagement when used in false narratives.
(Source: Vanity Fair, Fox News)
Misuse of Celebrity Images in Iran-Related Disinformation
The claim involving Ortega follows a pattern observed during recent protests and unrest in Iran. According to Iran’s state-run broadcaster Press TV, several campaigns have circulated images of foreign celebrities and public figures, falsely presenting them as Iranian civilians allegedly killed by security forces. Iranian state media and analysts have described this as part of coordinated online information warfare during late 2025 and early 2026, when protests over inflation and currency devaluation escalated into violent unrest.
A separate analysis cited by AI Daily News reported that a majority of posts in one large dataset were retweets from a limited number of sources, reaching millions of users despite lacking original reporting or verification.
Conclusion
The claim that Jenna Ortega was killed by Iranian police is false. She is alive, remains publicly active, and there is no evidence from credible media, official sources, or family representatives to support the claim. Her image was misused as part of a broader pattern of disinformation related to unrest in Iran, as well as recycled celebrity death hoaxes designed to generate engagement.
Title:Jenna Ortega Was NOT Killed by Iranian Police
Fact Check By: Cielito Wang
Result: False
