Mia Goth denies posting AI-altered 'my ex' selfie, criticises Instagram
Mia Goth never posted a selfie wearing a T-shirt that reads "MY EX IS MY BIGGEST FAN." The picture is an AI-altered fake, her representatives say, and they have criticised Instagram owner Meta for letting it spread.
Goth filed for divorce from Shia LaBeouf, as reported by Variety on 13 October. Two days after that filing, the altered image began circulating as if it were a genuine post from her. It showed Goth in a plain top with the phrase printed in bold black letters across the chest, as described by The Verge.
The image came from an Instagram account using the handle "miagoth_". The account carried a blue verified checkmark, the badge Instagram uses to signal an authentic or notable presence, yet its profile labelled it as a fan account. It had roughly one million followers.
Goth has no social media accounts at all, her spokesperson Christine Tripicchio said. Any page claiming to post as her, or on her behalf, is therefore not her. Tripicchio called it disconcerting that a fan account could meet Instagram's criteria for a blue check.
She went further on the wider issue. It is incomprehensible, she said, that Instagram would prioritise the circulation of forged images over protecting a public figure's likeness. Her team had filed multiple complaints with Instagram about repeated postings of counterfeit AI images of Goth.
As of Tuesday afternoon in the United States, the "miagoth_" account appeared to have been taken down. That action followed the complaints and press attention around the T-shirt image.
Meta's current approach is to label content altered with AI rather than ban AI depictions of real people outright. That distinction matters for readers seeing these posts in a feed. A label assumes the viewer notices it and understands what it means, while a verified checkmark can suggest the account itself is trustworthy.
The company has faced broader questions this year about AI tools on Instagram. Days after introducing a new AI image feature, Meta deactivated it in July following controversy, according to Fox 5 New York.
What makes this stand out is the collision of those two systems. A fan-run page looked official. An altered photo looked like a personal statement about a divorce. And the subject of the photo says she is not on the platform to correct the record herself.
