'Shocking' Images of Skeletal Steve Jobs May Be Fake

Purported photos of Steve Jobs taken right after his resignation as CEO are circulating on the web with one ‘skeptic’ (allegedly knowledgeable of doctored photos) claiming the images are fake.

Leaked to tabloid TMZ by a representative at Pacific Coast News, the images in question seem to indicate Steve Jobs’ fight with cancer is ongoing.

In fact, the images would have us believe Jobs’ already bad condition is taking a turn for the worse.

Depicting a former Apple CEO looking more frail than ever, the pictures may actually be doctored, according to one person with knowledge of photography editing software.

This ‘skeptic’, as Gawker Media describes the person, reportedly turned to Reddit after seeing the shocking images.

He/she has reportedly found several clues that give away the fake nature of the images, including whole portions where cutting and pasting had been performed.

Complete with explanations on how each part of the picture had been altered, the skeptic provided the mass media with the image displayed above - click to enlarge.

Several areas around Jobs head, thighs, and ankles are highlighted as spots where alterations have been made.

It also appears that the ‘artist’ responsible for the fake image has used a procedure called “pinching” where Jobs’ entire figure was squished inwards to make the already thin man look even thinner.

First and foremost, the released photo is a poor quality one,” the skeptic writes. “This is likely done to cover up more obvious alterations made to the photo.”

The annotated image also reads (in caps): “TMZ is a tabloid not a reliable news media outlet”.

If the images are indeed photoshopped, it wouldn’t be the first time a tabloid attempted to draw visitors by exaggerating about Jobs’ condition.

In February this year, images of Steve Jobs obtained by The National Enquirer showed an extremely thin Apple CEO, with the tabloid quoting alleged experts as saying Jobs had only six weeks to live.

Whatever condition he is in at the moment, Jobs is still alive half a year into that so-called diagnosis.

Jobs, however, probably wakes up every morning disappointed that the media is doing everything but to respect his wish to have some privacy about his illness, even now when he is no longer CEO of Apple.