William Shatner Confronts Fake Social Media Posts
William Shatner, the iconic Star Trek actor, has taken a stand against several fake social media posts that have falsely claimed he is deceased. At 95 years old, Shatner, who became a household name for his role as Captain James T. Kirk in the sci-fi series, has spoken out about a Facebook page that is allegedly profiting from his likeness through AI-generated content.
Shatner addressed the ‘Beanstalk Functions Group’ page on Instagram and X, highlighting that it had created ‘horrible fake news stories’ about him. These included claims of him having stage 4 brain cancer, being involved in a fight with Erika Kirk, and even his death. He mentioned that he had delayed sharing this information until after April Fools’ Day to avoid it appearing like a joke.
He explained that the page was using AI to generate images and news stories about him, which were then monetized. The fake stories depicted him in a hospital bed battling cancer and being insulted by Charlie Kirk’s widow. Despite reporting the page to Facebook, it remained online for some time.
Shatner also reached out to the apparent CEO of the group, urging them to remove the stories themselves. He emphasized that none of these stories are true, yet they appear genuine enough for fans to share across social media and send messages of support to him and his family. He pointed out that the culprits behind the account are making money from these falsehoods.
“This is the downside of AI and yellow journalism,” Shatner said. “While it can be a wonderful tool in the right hands, it can be used as a weapon in the wrong hands.”
He advised his followers to take any bizarre story about him with a grain of salt unless it is posted on one of his verified accounts. Shatner also expressed surprise at how many of his “fans” believed the AI-generated images were real.
A spokesperson for Meta confirmed that the Facebook page was eventually removed for violating its policies. This incident comes after Shatner was hospitalized last year due to a medical emergency involving his blood sugar. Sources revealed that he had overindulged, but he reassured his fans on Instagram that “rumours of my demise have been greatly exaggerated.”
Shatner’s career spans seven decades, but he remains best known for his portrayal of Captain Kirk in the Star Trek franchise. His debut as the captain of the starship Enterprise occurred in the second pilot of the first Star Trek television series in 1966, with his final appearance in the movie Star Trek Generations in 1994.
If you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures, you can get in touch with the .co.uk entertainment team by emailing [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145, or visiting their Submit Stuff page.
Comment now
Comments
Add as a Preferred Source on Google
Add as preferred source
Want to get bespoke updates on the TV shows you love? Sign up to ‘s TV newsletters and tell us which ones you can’t get enough of.
