‘The Odyssey’ Star Mia Goth’s Team Responds to Fake ‘My Ex Is My Biggest Fan’ Photo
In today’s AI-driven world, a single convincing image can circulate globally before anyone verifies its authenticity. This poses a unique challenge for public figures, who can be misrepresented in ways they never intended. Mia Goth has recently found herself at the center of such a situation.
Goth’s team has lodged several complaints with Instagram regarding the dissemination of what they describe as counterfeit, AI-generated images of the actress. The controversy revolves around a verified fan account that shared a photo of Goth wearing a shirt that read “MY EX IS MY BIGGEST FAN,” just days after she filed for divorce from Shia LaBeouf. This image was fabricated, and Goth does not engage with social media.
The timing of the post was particularly striking. Goth filed for divorce on Tuesday, October 6, in Los Angeles County Superior Court, citing irreconcilable differences following a separation. Just two days later, on October 8, an Instagram account named “Mia Goth | Fan Page” shared what appeared to be a selfie of her in a white T-shirt featuring that message.
The account, @miagoth_, boasted a blue verification badge and over 1 million followers. Although it identified itself as a fan page, the verification and follower count lent it an air of legitimacy that contributed to the confusion. For years, the blue checkmark has indicated authenticity, which likely misled many.
The image quickly gained traction, with several media outlets treating it as a legitimate statement from Goth regarding her ex-husband. However, her representative clarified that she is not active on any social media platforms, including Instagram. The image was indeed AI-generated, and the account was not affiliated with her.
Goth’s representative, Christine Tripicchio, informed The Verge that the actress does not own or participate in social media on any platform. The team has filed multiple complaints urging Instagram to remove the verified account, which continued to post counterfeit AI images. They expressed concern that the account met the criteria for a blue check, which is troubling on a fundamental level.
The statement went on to criticize Instagram for seemingly prioritizing the spread of forged and manipulated images over protecting the integrity of a public figure’s likeness. This sharp critique highlights growing frustrations among public figures regarding how impersonation and AI content are managed on the platform.
Meta has since taken action by removing the account. A company spokesperson, Alex Dziedzan, confirmed to The Verge that the verified fan account was removed for impersonating a public figure. As of Tuesday afternoon, the page was no longer visible on Instagram.
The broader policy of the company remains contentious. Meta does not prohibit AI-generated representations of real individuals, and while some AI-created content is labeled, their rules include an exception that allows still images to circulate without a label. Critics argue that this loophole is what enables images like this to spread unchecked.
Goth is not the first celebrity to face this issue. Numerous Hollywood stars, including Scarlett Johansson and Cate Blanchett, have voiced their concerns about deepfakes and AI-generated images. As technology advances, these fakes are becoming increasingly difficult to identify, and the rapid pace of social media allows false images to amass millions of views before being debunked.
For someone like Goth, who has intentionally avoided social media, this situation is particularly frustrating. Her public persona is shaped by her performances in films such as ‘X’, ‘Pearl’, and ‘MaXXXine’, rather than by social media posts. A fake selfie that seems to express her feelings about her divorce undermines that choice.
While the divorce filing is not contested, the fake image illustrates how personal news can be manipulated. A caption about an ex-husband is precisely the type of content that spreads rapidly and can influence public perception without any factual basis. This creates a media literacy challenge as much as a technological one.
It also pressures platforms to reconsider their verification processes. When a blue badge appears on an account that shares fabricated images of a real person, it risks granting those images an undeserved credibility. Goth’s team is urging Instagram to take this risk seriously.
With the account’s removal, the immediate issue has been addressed, but the larger question persists. Will platforms tighten their regulations on AI representations of real individuals, or will incidents like this continue to occur? For now, the best approach for readers is to remain skeptical of any viral image that seems too perfectly timed.
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