“Fake Brad Pitt” Photo Sparks Backlash as Actor Jung Yoon Min Offers Strange Explanation

Actor Jung Yoon Min has come under fire after posting an AI-generated photo that appeared to show him posing with Brad Pitt.

Jung Yoon Min uploaded the image as if he had actually met Brad Pitt in Seoul’s Bukchon neighborhood. When followers asked whether the image was AI-generated, he initially remained silent. However, after controversy grew, he offered an unusual explanation, saying, “Even I was scared after seeing it.”

On May 9, Jung Yoon Min posted a selfie on his personal social media account with the caption, “Unbelievable that I ran into Brad Pitt in the alleys of Bukchon.” The uploaded image showed Jung standing beside Brad Pitt in front of traditional hanok houses in Bukchon.

People close to Jung reacted with comments such as, “This isn’t AI, right?”, “I thought it was AI,” and “That’s crazy.” Jung did not respond to any of the questions.

As the image spread online, articles began appearing that made it seem as though Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt had actually visited Bukchon during a trip to Korea, leading many people to misunderstand the situation.

Despite the growing attention, Jung remained silent for two days. He only addressed the matter after concerns surfaced that the AI-generated image could involve issues such as violation of portrait rights and spreading false information.

On May 11, Jung posted a clarification on social media, saying, “So many people asked whether Brad Pitt really came to Korea after seeing the Bukchon photo, so I’m posting this explanation. To get straight to the point, the image was generated with AI.”

He continued, “I was honestly scared myself by how realistically AI can recreate real people and backgrounds, so I casually shared it to raise awareness. But it ended up receiving much more attention than I expected.”

Jung added, “It’s shocking that technology has advanced enough for actual news articles to be written about it. Everyone should be careful not to be fooled by fake images.”

He also edited the tag on the AI-generated photo from “Brad Pitt” to “A guy who looks like Brad Pitt.”

However, even after clarifying that the image was fake, controversy continued. Jung appeared more upset about media outlets turning the post into news articles than about uploading the fake image itself.

Responding to criticism over his delayed explanation, Jung wrote, “I’m the one who’s even more dumbfounded. I casually uploaded one photo on my personal account to warn people I know about the dangers of AI technology, and I never expected it to spiral like this.”

He continued, “What’s most absurd is that I never asked anyone to write an article. Reporters took my feed without permission and turned it into news stories.”

Although Jung described the upload as a harmless joke involving an AI-generated image, using the likeness of a real person, such as Brad Pitt, can still raise legal and ethical concerns.

This is one reason why calls for mandatory labeling of AI-generated photos and videos have recently grown louder. Even AI-created images may be interpreted as violations of portrait rights if the individual can still be clearly identified. There are also concerns about infringing on celebrities’ publicity rights. In cases where AI content misleads people into believing a real meeting or event took place, it could additionally be viewed as damaging someone’s reputation or deceiving the public.

Starting in 2026, South Korea has also been strengthening disclosure requirements for AI-generated content. Uploading AI-generated images without properly identifying them as such — especially if they cause public confusion — could potentially lead to platform penalties or legal consequences.

Since Jung himself works as an actor, some have pointed out that he may need to be even more cautious about issues involving portrait rights and publicity rights related to AI-generated content.

Jung Yoon Min has appeared in films including 'Night of the Undead,' 'Commitment,' 'Lovers Vanished,' and 'Chaw.'