Bishop T.D. Jakes is blaming AI-generated bots for rumors that he had allegedly resigned from a Dallas megachurch because of involvement with Sean "Diddy" Combs.
In late 2023, the pastor and author condemned allegations that he attended sex parties hosted by the music tycoon. The following December, Jakes sought to subpoena YouTube's parent company, Google, over what he said were hundreds of videos with "sordid and sensational allegations" about him and Diddy.
On Monday (July 14), Jakes appeared on John Hope Bryant's podcast Money and Wealth, where he claimed thousands of bots were used to defame him.
"When that first broke out, it was 44,000 bots that were released on me," Jakes said around the 26:40 mark in the video below. The 68-year-old claimed that "98 percent" of the videos were AI-generated and added, "We have got to stop getting our information on TikTok."
The pastor cited a 2024 Snopes article that confirmed the existence of videos containing AI that spread misinformation about Jakes. The report, however, only analyzed a sample of videos and did not specify how many were created or what percent used AI-generated content.
Jakes has repeatedly denied involvement in the allegations against Diddy, who earlier this month was found guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution.
"If there were anything there, the FBI would have been in it," Jakes said on the podcast. "There's no hiding it."
Jakes continued that unlike the unsubstantiated rumors, the reports of his massive heart attack last November were true.
"It takes all I can do at my age to try to stay current with what's going on, because AI is moving so fast that it is very difficult to tell misinformation, disinformation from real information," he added.
Last month, Jakes sat down with Oprah Winfrey during the Good Soil Forum in Dallas, where both disputed accusations of having attended Diddy's parties.
During Diddy's trial last month, Jane Doe testified that the music executive had a list of favorite sermons, including 11 that were given by Jakes. The music mogul is set to remain behind bars until his sentencing on Oct. 3.
