Kamala Harris was not wearing ‘audio earrings’ at debate, but false claims took off anyway

During the Sept. 10 presidential debate, viewers zoomed in on more than just the candidates’ words and body language. Some saw grounds for a conspiracy theory in Vice President Kamala Harris’ jewelry choice. 

They claimed her pearl earrings helped her debate performance against former President Donald Trump.

"BUSTED! SHE’S WEARING EARPHONE EARRINGS," a Sept. 10 Instagram post said. "NOVA H1 Audio Earrings - the first and only wireless earphones embedded in a pair of pearl earrings on a gold- or silver-plated clip."

This post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)

Conservative activist Laura Loomer also amplified the claim on X, saying, "Interesting choice of earrings tonight, @KamalaHarris."

But the claim that she was covertly wearing headphones is wrong. The NOVA H1 earrings and the earrings Harris wore during the debate may look similar because of a pearl in both designs, but upon closer inspection, they have important differences.

The Nova H1 Audio Earrings were introduced by the company as the first wireless earring headphones. Unlike traditional earphones, the audio earrings are clipped on the earlobe, not placed in the ear, and use "directional sound technology" to carry audio to the ear, the company said.

The product’s website shows two versions, one in silver and one in gold. Both versions have a pearl and one thick stem that clasps around the earlobe.

Malte Iversen, CEO of Icebach Sound Solutions, which produced the NOVA H1 earrings, told PolitiFact in a cheeky email that "we do not know" whether Harris wore one of his company’s products. The Icebach Sound Solutions’ homepage says that a "special edition for presidential debates" will soon be available; Iversen told PolitiFact the product is currently out of stock.

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The website also said that given the attention it received post debate, it would grant an interview to The Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon to "clarify the rumours and myths surrounding our wonderful products."

There is no evidence Harris was wearing those earrings. Harris was wearing earrings with two thinner lines — sort of like a safety pin folded in half, with the pearl as the head.