A post shared on Facebook claims actor Morgan Freeman announced he was converting to Islam following an appearance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Verdict: False

There is no evidence to suggest Freeman announced he was converting to Islam.

Fact Check:

Freeman was criticized by fans for performing at the 2022 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in Qatar, the New York Post reported. Most were upset at the actor’s participation despite Qatar’s policies around pro-LGBTQ arm bands, meat products, and more, according to the outlet.

The Facebook post purports Freeman announced he was converting to Islam following an appearance at the 2022 World Cup. “Allah U Akbar! Famous Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman accepted Islam #FIFAWorldCup2022,” the post’s caption reads.

The claim is false. There are no credible news reports suggesting Freeman announced a conversion to Islam. Likewise, the actor has not mentioned the purported claim on his verified social media accounts.

Freeman helped kick off the opening ceremony of this year’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The actor narrated a scene about finding beauty in differences and celebrating a variety of cultures.

During the opening ceremony, Freeman was joined on stage by 22-year-old disability activist Ghanim Al Muftah, The National News reported. Al Muftah recited a verse from the Quran reiterating the theme of finding beauty in differences, according to the outlet.

“We were raised to believe that we were scattered on this earth as nations and tribes, so we could learn from each other and find beauty in our differences,” Al Muftah said, sharing the verse from the Quran. (RELATED: Does This Image Show Alcohol That Was Smuggled Into The World Cup?)

Although Freeman has not announced his conversion to Islam, he told AARP the religion he most closely aligns with is Zoroastrianism, which is a pre-Islamic religion that worships the ancient prophet Zoroaster, according to Britannica. Freeman announced his beliefs in 2019 while promoting his National Geographic documentary series, “The Story of God.”

Check Your Fact has contacted Freeman’s representative for comment and will update this piece accordingly if one is received.