wire / 2026-10-14-dbf9
AI-Generated Image Triggers Racist Abuse Against Footballer Thiago Mendes
A fan made the image, the footballer shared it, and the footballer apologized.
The facts
Thiago Mendes, a Vasco footballer, faced a wave of racist abuse on social media after sharing an AI-generated image depicting him tearing the Boca Juniors crest. The image, initially created by a fan, went viral among Boca supporters, leading to widespread racist comments and forcing Mendes to delete the post and issue an apology.