Mia Goth slams Meta over 'fake' divorce dig at her ex Shia LaBeouf
A verified fan account with nearly a million followers sparked controversy after circulating a fabricated photograph appearing to mock the actress' estranged husband, prompting complaints and its removal by Meta.
Mia Goth has criticised Instagram's parent company Meta after an AI-manipulated image falsely appeared to show her mocking her former partner Shia LaBeouf following reports she had filed for divorce.
The British actress, 32, was depicted wearing a T-shirt bearing the words “MY EX IS MY BIGGEST FAN” in a photograph published by an Instagram account with approximately one million followers and a blue verification badge.
The image appeared days after news recently emerged of her divorce filing from Shia, 40, but her representatives confirmed the photograph was fabricated and Mia does not operate any social media accounts.
Her spokesperson, Christine Tripicchio, told technology publication The Verge: “The fact that this fan account meets Instagram’s criteria to qualify for a ‘blue check’ is disconcerting on a fundamental level.”
Christine added: “Beyond that, it is incomprehensible that Instagram evidently prioritizes the dissemination of forged and manipulated images over the protection and integrity of a public figure’s likeness.”
The image was published by an account using the handle “miagoth_”, which identified itself as a fan page but carried a verification badge that could have led users to believe it was officially associated with the actress.
Several news outlets subsequently reported on the photograph as though it were a genuine post by Mia, linking the supposed message to the breakdown of her marriage.
However, her representatives said the account had repeatedly published manipulated images and that complaints had already been submitted to Instagram concerning what they described as “counterfeit, AI images”.
A Meta spokesperson subsequently confirmed the profile had been removed for violating its terms and conditions.
The dispute has emerged amid growing concerns in the entertainment industry about the use of artificial intelligence to create convincing but fabricated images of actors and other public figures.
Meta permits some AI-generated depictions of real people on its platforms, subject to its policies, including labelling requirements for certain manipulated content.
The company also identifies some profiles as AI-generated, although the existence of a verification badge on a fan account can complicate efforts to distinguish official celebrity accounts from those operated by third parties.
Mia filed for divorce from Shia on 6 October in Los Angeles County Superior Court, citing irreconcilable differences after nearly a decade of marriage.
According to court documents, she listed 28 July 2025 as the date of their separation and requested primary custody of their four-year-old daughter, with visitation rights for Shia.
She also asked the court to deny spousal support to both parties.
Mia and Shia met while filming Lars von Trier's Nymphomaniac: Vol. II in 2012 and married in Las Vegas in 2016.
They announced a separation in 2018 before reconciling, and welcomed their daughter in 2022.
Shia, best known for starring in the Transformers franchise, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and the Disney Channel series Even Stevens, has also faced legal proceedings in recent months.
In June, he pleaded guilty to charges arising from an altercation during Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans and was sentenced to probation.
The divorce filing also followed the settlement of a separate legal dispute involving his former partner, the musician FKA twigs, 38, who had previously accused him of abuse.
Mia has established herself as a leading figure in contemporary horror cinema through her collaborations with director Ti West, 46, on X, Pearl and MaXXXine.
She also appeared in Suspiria, Infinity Pool and the period drama Emma, alongside Anya Taylor-Joy, 30.
More recently, Mia portrayed Elizabeth Lavenza in Guillermo del Toro's adaptation of Frankenstein, starring Oscar Isaac, 47, as Victor Frankenstein and Jacob Elordi, 29, as the Creature.
Her forthcoming projects include Star Wars: Starfighter, directed by Shawn Levy, 58, and starring Ryan Gosling, 45.
The controversy surrounding the fabricated Instagram photograph comes as several prominent Hollywood figures have raised concerns about the unauthorised use of their images and voices through artificial intelligence.
Scarlett Johansson, 41, has previously criticised AI-generated material that used her likeness without permission, while Cate Blanchett, 57, has supported initiatives addressing consent and performers' rights in the development of artificial intelligence.
