AI hoax? 'Death of Canadian who got plastic surgery to look like BTS' Jimin' was fake news: Report
Canadian actor named Saint Von Colucci
Reportsof Saint Von Colucci, a 22-year-old Canadian-Portuguese actor working in South Korea's entertainment industry, dying after facing complications from plastic surgeries went viral last week. If a fact check by Al Jazeera is to be believed, the news was fake.
The actor actually never existed, according to the latest reports. He was only a figment of someone's imagination. And, Artificial Intelligence was reportedly used to bring the character to life.
This is among thefirst known cases of AI being used to trick people and media to spread misinformation, heralding the dawn of a new era of AI-generated fake news, according to Al Jazeera. Newly found evidence shows that the story was just an elaborate hoax, the channel said in a report.
How did it all start?
It all started when a PR agency called HYPE Public Relations shared a press release with journalists around the globe and announced the passing away of Von Colucci. The poorly-written press release was full of red flags and unfortunately, dozens of media outlets couldn't pick on them.
Daily Mail Online was the first media house to report the story. It was quickly picked up by other media outlets worldwide. The publication took down its article on Wednesday without posting anyretraction notice on its site.
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
National Handloom Day 2026: From Alia Bhatt to Samantha Ruth Prabhu; Actresses who celebrated India's textile heritage as brides
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
Unitree Robotics targets $9 billion valuation in landmark IPO backed by DeepSeek and Tencent
)
India names 27 sites in Arunachal Pradesh
)
Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata OTT: When will Kangana Ranaut's film stream online?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How many soldiers operate one S-400 battery?
)
Shakib Al Hasan ready to return to Bangladesh—under one condition
)
‘Fake news’: MEA rejects report claiming India sought defence pact with Israel after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey deal
)
Rockstar to unveil GTA 6 extended look ahead of November launch
)
Russia forms Ukrainian Volunteer Spetsnaz Brigade to fight Ukraine
)
Drug-resistant fungus that hides in hair and enters bloodstream reported in 23 US states
)
Technology transfer deal boosts India's defence manufacturing ambitions
)
Border row erupts in Europe after Ceuta crossings, Spain imposes border controls on Italy
)
Morale plummets on USS Abraham Lincoln: Are US sailors reaching a breaking point? | GRAVITAS
)
'Security can't be bought with Pakistan, Turkey deal': Iran tells Saudi Arabia
)
Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside
)
Colombia’s new president Abelardo de la Espriella vows to ‘defeat narco-terrorists’, signals hardline shift
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT releases (August 7, 2026): Operation Safed Sagar, Vadhandhi, Main Vaapis Aaunga- 6 movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth scripts history as Indian Air Force gets its first woman ‘Top Gun’ pilot
)
RSS says Gen Z protests reflect genuine distress
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
IAF officer held for sharing sensitive information in 'honey trap' case, booked under Official Secrets Act
)
Stray Kids under scrutiny? Fans react to Grammy submission silence after BTS boycott
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI doesn't need external fuel tanks to fly vast distances
)
Jugal Hansraj reunites with Shekhar Kapur after 40 years for Masoom: The Next Generation
)
New speed limits, automatic challans: Big traffic change coming to Delhi-Meerut Expressway. All you need to know
)
India officially names 27 places in Arunachal to counter China's renaming claims
)
Trump calls White House ballroom ruling a 'national disgrace' as court says Congress approval needed
)
US sanctions Iran’s crypto network after Strait of Hormuz attacks, offers $15m bounty for intel on IRGC finance
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI is one of the heaviest fighters ever built
)
Uttarakhand young innovator builds India's own flying vehicle, conducts first test flight: WATCH
)
Chilling video shows students take cover as teen opens fire at Thai school
)
Reese Witherspoon's father hospitalised after poolside incident in Nashville: Report
Wionews.com had carried a report based on the Daily Mail story, and has now removed the article.
How did it come to light?
Al Jazeera reported that several web links in the document don't exist. And, Von Colucci's supposed Instagram account was also not operational. The hospital mentioned in the press release couldn't be found either.
Coming to the PR agency that started the whole drama, it seems that HYPE's website was registered only a few weeks before Von Colucci's reported death and is still incomplete. Meanwhile, nobody answered the phone numbers mentioned on the site when Al Jazeera tried to contact them, said the report.
Apart from the press release, there is little to no evidence that Von Colucci is a real person. He has no online footprint and nobody from his family has come forward to mourn his death. The pictures that are available online are pixelated and don't look real.
The fiasco has brought people's attention to Deepfakes and AI tools that are being used to spread misinformation. It has highlighted how believable AI-generated pictures can be and their dangers.
WATCH WION LIVE HERE
You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.