AI-Generated Deepfake News Report Spreads False Health Claims About Crowded House Singer
A deepfake video falsely claiming Crowded House frontman Neil Finn had erectile dysfunction was posted on Facebook in late July 2025, featuring AI-generated likenesses of a TVNZ journalist and a doctor. The band publicly denied the false claims to counter the misinformation.
What happened
An AI-generated fake news broadcast was posted on Facebook on July 31, 2025, claiming that Neil Finn, frontman of Crowded House, struggled with erectile dysfunction. The fake video featured AI-generated likenesses of TVNZ journalist Simon Dallow conducting an interview with an AI version of Finn, and a separate segment with an AI-generated version of doctor Lance O'Sullivan offering advice on the purported issue.
The footage claimed Finn had recently fathered a child after overcoming the alleged problem. The AI version of Finn stated: 'For years, I lived with a problem most men are too ashamed to talk about. My erections became weaker and weaker until they stopped altogether.'
Reported impact
Crowded House publicly dismissed the claims on Facebook, stating: 'We're not sure where this came from, but please don't be fooled. Neil's never had trouble with erections.' The band took the unusual step of directly addressing the false allegations to clarify the misinformation.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.