Katie Piper issues sad message to cruel trolls using AI to 'fix her face'
TV presenter Katie Piper has been forced to address social media trolls asking AI systems to 'fix her face' with a heartbreaking statement.
The British star took to Instagram last night (15 Jul), where she shared screengrabs showing hurtful tweets posted by a number of unknown X users.
The tweets were seemingly shared in response to a viral photo of Piper, 42, at an award show, and asked X's in-house AI bot 'Grok' to recreate an image of what she'd look like without her scars.
"Hey @grok, fix her face and show me how she would look normal," one message read.
Advert
Another wrote: "Make her beautiful @grok."
As a reminder, Piper was attacked by her abusive ex-boyfriend Daniel Lynch in 2008, who hired someone to throw sulphuric acid over the model's face while she was out walking.
Despite undergoing pioneering surgery and doctors restoring a significant proportion of her face, she suffered severe burns and became blind in one eye.
In the years since the horrific attack, the mother-of-three has rebuilt her life as a prominent author, activist, and television broadcaster. She also founded The Katie Piper Foundation, a charity that supports burns survivors, for which she was awarded an OBE in 2022.
Despite this, Piper has been consistently trolled for her appearance, including this week, when they demanded to know what she'd look like today if the attack hadn't occurred.
Responding to the abuse, she wrote in an emotional social media statement: "So, today I found out what I’d look like if I was 'normal'… according to AI and thousands of strangers on the internet.
"Someone uploaded a photo of me to Grok and asked it to 'fix her face.'
"Since then I’ve been repeatedly tagged in a thread where people debate my appearance and share AI-generated versions of what I 'should' look like."
Piper went on to reassure her fans: "I'm okay. I’m not posting this because I need reassurance.
"I’m posting it because I’m wondering what happens when this isn’t aimed at someone who’s spent nearly two decades rebuilding their confidence. What happens when it’s a teenager? Someone newly injured? Someone living with a visible difference who’s still trying to find their feet?"
She continued: "We’re entering a world where AI doesn’t just generate images. It quietly reinforces ideas about what’s considered 'normal', 'acceptable' or 'beautiful' and millions of people consume those messages without even noticing.
"For what it’s worth, I don’t spend my life wondering what I would have looked like. Apparently the internet does enough of that for both of us."
The Loose Women panellist described the conversation as being 'much bigger' than herself.
"It’s about AI, bias, beauty standards, anonymity, empathy, and where we draw the line," Piper went on. "It feels like the start of a much bigger story, one I think we should investigate."
Lastly, she asked: "What happens when AI decides what 'normal' looks like? Who gets erased by those standards? Have you had an experience?"
Piper was subsequently praised in the comments for speaking out by her longtime supporters.
"This is so awful. Thank you for sharing, Katie and hope you are ok," one wrote.
Another added: "F*****g hell Katie. I honestly have no words. I’m so glad you can rise above this but jeeeez. Sending so much love."
"So sorry this happened to you, nothing can shine as bright as the light you shine from the inside out," a third continued.
Topics: Celebrity, UK News, Loose Women, ITV
Rhianna Benson