AI-altered fake celebrity paparazzi photos spread on X to drive traffic

According to a report published by Futurism on 2026-11-13, a wave of fake paparazzi images of celebrities is spreading across X, with accounts using them to fabricate stories and drive traffic for monetization. The report gives several examples of synthetic images circulating on the platform: in one, the singer Billie Eilish is depicted as strikingly thin; in another, the model and reality TV star Kendall Jenner is shown heavily pregnant while holding a bottle of liquor; in a third, the rapper Jaden Smith is pictured hugging and kissing a "mystery man." The report states that all of these images are AI-altered deepfakes that have been gaining traction on platforms such as X, which it describes as engaging in little moderation and being deeply integrated with AI technology. A key point it highlights is that these images are considered more convincing than fully AI-generated pictures, because they are produced by making local modifications to real photos of celebrities rather than being created from scratch. The report also notes that some of the accounts posting this kind of content have already obtained verification, which helps the material reach broader audiences. At this stage, the reporting covers the emergence of the fake images and the examples observed, and does not describe any platform response, enforcement action, or follow-up outcome.