Six months ago, in April 2024, an AI-generated explicit image and videos of Paige Bueckers, an American college basketball player for the UConn Huskies, leaked in the media and went viral.
The explicit image appears to be strong enough to scar Paige’s image, so other female athletes like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, who have also been victims of the latest AI technology, came in her support so that she could hold her head high.
On April 22, 2024, Angel posted a tweet that read,
protect young women in sports!!!
Via Twitter
Beneath the comment section, many supported Angel for raising a voice for women and praised her for what she did. A Twitter user named Shikhu commented,
yes, so important. – isn’t it sad that girls shy away from sports because of some of the horror stories… You are such an amazing role model
Likewise, another thanked Angel for standing up and many more. Well, probably having the back of the strong and established women of the same fraternity, Paige Bueckers also voiced back for herself, posting a tweet two days after Angel Reese tweeted.
Paige’s tweet read,
The devil works hard but God and the people around me work WAY harder. The outpouring of love and support from the WBB community is unreal. Love yall. Support women in sport ALWAYS
Via Twitter
After that, many of her followers appeared outraged by what happened to Paige and came together to show their support for the athlete, as they wrote, “Deep fake should be a prison sentence,” “We got your back always!,” and many others.
Likewise, according to a Twitter user named Ken Swift’s tweet, Paige’s AI-generated photos and videos were pretty dangerous, as he had written,
This horrible situation actually reaffirmed my faith in humanity. So many people ran interference out of love and respect for you. You’re a great person who is doing great things. The ones who judge, you don’t need. Much love.
It has been a while since the incident happened, so the leaked AI video of Paige Bueckers appears to have been removed from online mode since we couldn’t find it even after thorough research.
After an AI-generated leaked video incident, Paige Bueckers faced online harassment from an Oregon native, Robert Cole Parmalee!
According to ESPN reports, the 40-year-old man, Robert Cole Parmalee from Grants Pass, stalked and harassed Paige Bueckers time and again via his social media handle.
According to the emails received by UConn Police, Robert claimed to come from a royal family and expressed his desire to marry a member of the women’s basketball team. He even faked the wedding with Paige, posting an invitation online on August 25, 2024.
He also had posted a post on social media that apparently threatened Paige and her family members. Her post read,
And if I cannot live with a woman of my choosing, [Bueckers], then I will choose to die, and I will choose to take all of you that [op]pose me, oppose us, to hell, and return, king…”
Via ESPN
His TikTok bio says, “I’m here to merry Paige Bueckers. The rest is games to catch you lying.” The man has now come under the law. UConn Police have arrested Robert Cole and charged him with breach of peace, electronic stalking, and harassment.
He will appear in court on October 22, 2024, at Connecticut Superior Court in Rockville.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Paige Bueckers was born to her father, Bob Bueckers, and her mother, Amy Fuller, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on October 20, 2001. She is currently 22 years old.
- She began her basketball journey at age 5 and has since been awarded several titles, including AP Player of the Year and USBWA National Player of the Year.
- Paige became the USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year in 2019.
