Actress Lisa Riley has publicly denounced a "horrendous" AI-generated social media post falsely claiming she is pregnant. The 50-year-old star shared an image of the fabricated Facebook post on Instagram, which depicted her holding a sonogram and later a baby with her partner Al Benković.
Riley expressed her upset and disbelief that such lies are permitted in the public domain. "How is this allowed it makes me so upset... what world do we live in that these lies, and more lies are allowed to be put in the public domain. I'm sick to death of it now!!!" she wrote.
ITV issued a statement shared by Riley, warning about the proliferation of AI-generated fake news targeting actors and programs from shows like Emmerdale and Coronation Street. The statement emphasized that these fabricated posts can be "extremely hurtful and damaging to reputations" and urged the public to follow genuine news outlets and report suspicious content.
This is not the first time Riley has been targeted with false pregnancy rumors. In January, she addressed similar claims, stating emphatically that she was not pregnant and highlighting the insensitivity given her previous public discussions about fertility struggles. On an episode of Loose Women, she candidly shared her experiences with IVF and the emotional toll it took.
Riley recounted her journey of trying to conceive with her partner Al, whom she has been with since 2014. She spoke of her deep desire for a child, stating, "I would have given everything in my life to have had a child." She also shared her partner's concern that the intensive IVF treatment was negatively impacting her personality.
During the Loose Women discussion, which touched on topics surrounding abortion rates, Riley reflected on her Catholic upbringing influencing her views on contraception and premarital sex. She explained that she waited to find the right partner before trying to start a family, only to find she could not conceive. She described feeling "diminished" and like a "jigsaw with a missing piece" during that period.
Fellow panellist Janet Street Porter also shared her perspective, having chosen not to have children and facing similar intrusive questions. The conversation explored the societal expectations placed on women regarding career versus family.
Despite the past difficulties, Riley stated she has found peace and happiness. She acknowledged that seeing colleagues at Emmerdale experience successful pregnancies brings a "little scuff in the back of my head" but emphasized her contentment with her current life and her relationship with Al.