Former NBA champion Matt Barnes discovered himself on the heart of a digital firestorm this month after social media erupted with claims that he had been duped out of $61,000 by an AI-generated Instagram mannequin. The narrative unfold with outstanding velocity, pushed by blogs, response channels, and commentary exhibits that painted Barnes as the most recent sufferer of deepfake catfishing. Because the web ran wild with theories, the story ballooned right into a full-blown spectacle throughout NBA and celeb gossip circles.However upon coming back from a visit to Dubai, the 45-year-old retired ahead forcefully shut down the allegations. Pissed off by what he described as a 12 months crammed with fabricated tales about his private life, Barnes addressed the controversy head-on in a fiery video, blasting the rumor mill for crossing the road as soon as once more.
How the Rumor Spiral Surrounding Matt Barnes Started
The AI rip-off narrative surfaced in early December 2025, alleging that Barnes had fallen for a seductive “AI snow bunny” throughout a rocky interval following his 2023 breakup with fiancée Anansa Sims. These posts claimed scammers weaponized deepfake audio, video, and textual content messages to simulate infidelity and demand cash whereas Sims was pregnant. Supposed screenshots confirmed transactions to somebody named “Zoe,” giving the storyline sufficient bait for blogs and social media accounts to run with dramatic headlines.The rumor grew additional when retailers urged Barnes was suing both the supposed AI mannequin or media persona Tasha Ok for defamation. In the meantime, followers re-circulated screenshots, timelines, and speculative commentary, fueling confusion over what was actual and what wasn’t.
Gilbert Arenas Provides Gas Earlier than Apologizing
Barnes’ All The Smoke co-host Gilbert Arenas unintentionally intensified the frenzy. On his present, Arenas jokingly questioned the story in disbelief, dropping the now-viral line: “Y’all taking part in… by an AI snow bunny?” His feedback added legitimacy to the rumor for a lot of followers, despite the fact that he admitted he had not verified something.After Barnes confronted him, Arenas apologized and acknowledged how simply unverified gossip can spiral into perceived reality, particularly inside celeb circles.
Matt Barnes Fires Again on the Web
In his video response, Barnes blasted what he known as “backside of the barrel ass” blogs for spreading unresearched claims. He questioned how anybody may imagine he was trying to sue an AI mannequin, calling the concept absurd. Barnes emphasised his precedence has been repairing his household following his April 2025 engagement break up with Sims, a breakup he took accountability for amid public allegations of infidelity.He ended his message with a blunt warning to followers: “Y’all can’t imagine every part you motherf***in’ hear!!”
The Actual Difficulty and How AI Scams Are Rising
Whereas Barnes insists this explicit story is fiction, the broader risk is just not. Deepfake scams focusing on athletes and public figures have gotten extra widespread, with criminals cloning voices and manufacturing proof to extort cash. Consultants warn that paying such scammers typically emboldens them, creating escalating calls for in a digital panorama the place misinformation spreads quicker than reality.Additionally learn: LeBron James claps again at courtside hater with savage 4-word response throughout Lakers–Sixers showdownBarnes’ ordeal could also be exaggerated gossip, however it highlights an actual problem of navigating 2025’s chaotic, tech-driven rumor tradition.
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