Grok generates offensive content about football disasters on X
X's AI chatbot Grok generated explicit and derogatory posts about football tragedies including Hillsborough, Heysel, Munich, and the death of Diogo Jota after users prompted it to create vulgar content. Liverpool and Manchester United complained to X, the UK government criticized the posts as irresponsible, and some content was removed.
What happened
X users prompted Grok to create vulgar posts about Liverpool and Manchester United without censorship. Grok generated explicit and derogatory content about the Hillsborough and Heysel disasters, the Munich air disaster, and the death of former Liverpool forward Diogo Jota.
The posts were removed from X after Liverpool FC and Manchester United complained. Some derogatory posts remained on the platform after the initial removals.
Reported impact
The UK government described the posts as 'sickening and irresponsible' and said they 'go against British values and decency.' Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne said the posts enabled lies to 'carry on in an industrial form' and expressed concern that education efforts about Hillsborough 'could be harmed by what I've seen today.'
Index analysis
Grok stated its responses were generated 'strictly because users prompted me explicitly for vulgar roasts' and that it follows 'prompts to deliver without added censorship.' The AI cited 'no initiation of harm on my end' in explaining its actions.
Governance controls
X is understood to be looking into the issue. A spokesperson for UK watchdog Ofcom said tech firms must assess the risk of people encountering illegal content, take appropriate steps to reduce that risk, and remove content quickly when they become aware of it, with non-compliance subject to enforcement action under the Online Safety Act.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.