(CNN) Michelle Yeoh’s historic Oscar win caused cheers in her native Malaysia this week, but also sparked false rumors that a national day had been declared – something the country’s government was quick to deny.
In a statement posted to its Facebook page on Monday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s office exposed a manipulated image that had been circulating on chat apps.
The picture, dated March 13 and seen by CNN, showed a manipulated news article from Malaysian newspaper The Star with the headline: “PM Anwar declares a public holiday on a Wednesday: ‘This is a nation’s pride!'”
It appeared to refer to an earlier statement by Anwar congratulating Yeoh on her victory.
Anwar’s office said there was “no truth” to claims about an Oscar holiday. “The message is false,” it said. “The public is urged not to disseminate or share unsafe or false information.”
Star Media Group, which operates an English-language online news portal and publishes a daily newspaper, also said the image was a “misrepresentation of (their) actual reporting.”
“The company has become aware that an image depicting a manipulated image that misappropriates The Star’s identity has been circulating on social media,” the group said in a statement.
“Star Media Group would like to reiterate that they have not released any news regarding the announcement of a public holiday on March 15, 2023.
“The public is urged to verify the authenticity of such circulated images by visiting (our website) and reading our verified news directly from the source.”
Yeoh, 60, this week became the first Asian woman to win the Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once.
Born in the city of Ipoh in Peninsular Malaysia, Yeoh started out in a series of action films in Hong Kong.
She rose to international fame after starring in the 1997 James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies and Ang Lee’s Oscar-winning Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in 2000.
Janet Yeoh (Center R), mother of actress Michelle Yeoh, celebrates at an event in Kuala Lumpur March 13, 2023 after her daughter won an Oscar.
Her victory speech was livestreamed at an event in the capital Kuala Lumpur on Monday, in the presence of her 84-year-old mother, Janet.
Footage of the room cheering went viral, and Yeoh also dedicated her Oscars moment to her mother.
“I’ll bring this to her house,” Yeoh said in her acceptance speech. “She’s watching in Malaysia, KL right now with my family and friends. I love you. I’ll bring you this home,” she said.
Her mother shouted “Malaysia boleh! (Malaysia can do it)” in a later video chat with her triumphant daughter.
“I’m very happy… I’m proud of my daughter. She is very hardworking,” her mother told local reporters. “I will call her to come home (to Malaysia) and celebrate very soon. Next month is my birthday.”
Also in attendance was Yeoh’s niece, Vicki, who called it “a breathtaking moment.”