William Shatner is speaking out to blast AI fake news reports alleging that he’s dying. Much to the Star Trek legend’s dismay, AI has been spreading other fake reports about him as well.
Shatner Fires Back At AI
Shatner, 95, insisted that he is “fit as a fiddle,” and that there is no truth to reports that he’s dying.
“I wanted to put this out yesterday but given the day and the possibility that it would look like a joke I waited for today,” Shatner wrote on Instagram on Thursday, the day after April Fool’s Day. “There is a page on @facebook that is using AI to create horrible fake news stories about me.”
Shatner went on to say that the page in question belongs to the Beanstalk Functions Group, which he said appeared to be an event planner in South Africa.
“They have created stories that say I have stage 4 brain cancer, was in some kind of fight with Erika Kirk and that I’m dying,” he continued. “All their stories are monetized. Most of the stories use an AI image of me. Facebook Support will not remove the page.”
“None of these stories are true. But they apparently seem genuine enough for fans to repost them across social media and send messages of support to me and my family all while the culprits behind the account make money,” Shatner later added.
“This is the downside of AI and yellow journalism,” he lamented. “While can be a wonderful tool in the right hands; it can be used as a weapon in the wrong hands. If you see a bizarre story about me; unless you.”
Hours after Shatner’s post went up, Facebook told Fox News that the page in question had been removed for “violating our policies.”
‘This Is Getting Insane…’
Even so, it appears that the fake stories are continuing to spread online. Indeed, Shatner later shared another photo to Instagram of himself smiling sitting in a yellow chair. Sadly, his granddaughter had sent the image to her mother after falling for the fake reports that Shatner is dying of brain cancer.
“My Daughter came over to tell me her daughter heard that I had brain cancer,” Shatner wrote. “She took this photo and sent it to me to upload to prove I’m not ill. The people who are ill are those that are spreading these ridiculous stories. I’m fit as a fiddle. You don’t have to worry. This is getting insane.”
This sadly isn’t the first time that Shatner has had to shut down rumors about his health. Shatner was briefly hospitalized in September of last year. This led to mass fears over his health. However, he was quick to insist that the entire incident had been blown out of proportion, and that he was doing just fine.
“I over indulged, I thank you all for caring but I’m perfectly fine,” Shatner wrote on Instagram on September 25. “I keep telling you all: don’t trust tabloids or AI!”
Shatner is a true living legend who has long been one of the most beloved stars in Hollywood. While it’s sad that he’s being targeted by AI, we’re just relieved that he’s doing alright.
God bless you, William Shatner!