Ex-NBA star clears the air on alleged scamming by – Sports News
Former NBA participant and present podcast host Matt Barnes has refuted allegations that he was conned out of $61,000 by an AI-generated model. The rumor started to flow into after Gilbert Arenas introduced up the declare on his show, Gil’s Arena.
Barnes, who beforehand performed for the Golden State Warriors and clinched the 2017 NBA Finals with the crew, had earlier said that he was focused by a girl utilizing deepfake audio and different supplies to falsely show that he had been untrue to his fiancée, Anansa Sims. According to Barnes, the AI-fueled plot coerced him into paying a hefty sum to forestall the fabricated proof from being launched, resulting in the sensational story that he was duped by an AI model.
The host of All the Smoke dismissed these claims as false, branding the viral narrative as a lie and pointing fingers at gossip blogger Tasha Okay for spreading it. On Nov. fifteenth, he introduced plans to sue her for defamation as the scenario escalated into full-blown tabloid drama.
Barnes was launched by NBC Sports California in 2024 following an incident with a teenager during a basketball sport.
Barnes revealed that he had a non-public dialog with Arenas after the phase aired, and Arenas subsequently apologized for discussing the matter with out absolutely understanding the scenario.
He famous that the dialogue solely gained momentum as a result of Arenas publicly addressed it.
“After all we’ve been through, bro, tap in with me and see if it’s real,” he stated. While Barnes and Arenas by no means suited up collectively, they got here close to being teammates in Orlando, lacking one another by only one season.
During their NBA stints, each athletes donned jerseys for the Warriors, Orlando Magic, and Memphis Grizzlies.
Barnes took to Instagram Stories on Tuesday with a prolonged message that swung between weariness, fury, and bewilderment, implying that no one would buy into the AI narrative.
“2025 has been a crazy year, man,” Barnes stated. “When I look back on this year in 10 or 15 years, it’s gonna be like, damn. My personal life has been flipped upside down because of me. But at the same time really starting to take off in business.”
Barnes wrapped up his message with a cautionary observe about the perils of digital misinformation and online tradition. “Y’all can’t believe everything you mother—-ing hear,” he stated.
“I’ve been dealing with some real s— while y’all been lying.”
The former NBA participant has instructed he would possibly pursue legal motion towards Tasha Okay, who beforehand confronted a high-profile defamation lawsuit involving Cardi B.
The 43-year-old content material creator boasts more than 1.25 million YouTube followers and launched voice recordings she claimed have been proof of Barnes’ alleged dishonest.
Barnes positioned his upcoming actions as a mission to regain authority over his id and public image. He emphasised that his priorities stay his household, his entrepreneurial pursuits, and getting ready for a recent begin in 2026.
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