Brad Pitt has responded to a viral case involving a French woman who was scammed out of $850,000 by a fraudster using AI-generated photos and messages mimicking the actor. The victim, Anne, a 53-year-old interior decorator, shared her experience on the French program Sept à Huit, revealing she believed she was in a long-distance relationship with Pitt for over a year.
Anne explained that the scam began when she was contacted by someone posing as Pitt’s “mother” on Instagram. The fraudster used deepfake images and emotional messages, claiming he needed $1 million for kidney treatment and was unable to access his funds due to an ongoing divorce with Angelina Jolie. It wasn’t until Pitt went public about his relationship with Ines de Ramon that Anne realized she had been scammed.
Pitt’s representative issued a statement to E! News condemning the scam, saying, “It’s awful that scammers take advantage of fans’ strong connection with celebrities. This is an important reminder to not respond to unsolicited online outreach, especially from actors who have no social media presence.” Pitt does not maintain any personal social media accounts.
Anne, who admitted she was unfamiliar with social media, shared that the ordeal left her deeply traumatized. Following widespread backlash and ridicule after the interview aired, French channel TF1 removed the segment from its platforms. TF1 presenter Harry Roselmack explained the decision on X (formerly Twitter), citing concerns for Anne’s safety and mental health.
The scam underscores the growing dangers of deepfake technology, which is increasingly being used in cybercrimes. DeepMedia reports that approximately 500,000 deepfake videos and voice clips were shared globally on social media in 2024, a figure expected to surge to 8 million this year. Experts are urging the public to remain vigilant, as cases like Anne’s highlight the devastating impact of such scams.
The incident serves as a cautionary tale about the risks of online interactions and the need for greater awareness around deepfake technology.
