Brad Pitt shares an official statement on the woman who was scammed out of $850,000 by an online impersonator. The actor is known for his cool and charismatic performances in an array of films, winning an Academy Award for his role as stunt double Cliff Booth in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. However, Pitt was recently the subject of a viral story involving a 53-year-old French woman who was scammed out of $850,000 by someone pretending to be the actor.

Now, the actor himself is speaking out about the scam. In response to the viral story, Brad Pitt’s spokesperson shared a statement via Variety, saying “It’s awful that scammers take advantage of the strong bond between fans and celebrities.” Read the full statement below:

It’s awful that scammers take advantage of the strong bond between fans and celebrities. This is an important reminder not to respond to unsolicited online messages, especially from actors who are not present on social networks.

Why Brad Pitt’s Official Statement Means

What Happened?

The story of the scam came to light in an episode of the TF1 show Sept à huit featuring Anne, a 53-year-old French interior decorator who believed she was in a year-long online romance with Brad Pitt. Anne, who was previously married to a millionaire, was contacted by a scammer on Instagram posing at Pitt’s mother, who told Anne that “her son needed someone like [her].” Anne later received AI-generated pH๏τos and affectionate messages from the Pitt impersonator, who she says “knew how to talk to women.”

Eventually, the impersonator convinced Anne to send $1 million for a supposed kidney treatment, sending AI-generated images of Pitt in a hospital bed, and claiming he was unable to access his bank accounts due to his divorce from Angelina Jolie. Anne, in the midst of her own divorce, gave all her settlement money to the scammer. Following the TF1 broadcast, Anne faced harsh ridicule online and was bullied over the ordeal, forcing the network to remove the segment from all platforms to protect her from further harᴀssment.

Our Take On Brad Pitt’s Official Statement

It Calls Attention To An Important Issue

In the case of Anne, the scam was incredibly well-orchestrated – targeting a wealthy woman who was going through a divorce, manipulating her emotions, and using AI images to convince her that she was truly in contact with Brad Pitt. As the actor’s official statement says, Anne’s story serves as an important reminder not to respond to unsolicited messages online, especially from celebrities who are not active on social media. Anne’s story serves as an important reminder to be careful online, especially as scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated.

Source: Variety