Matt Barnes is calling foul on rumors that he was extorted by an AI model.
Earlier this month, rumors circulated online that the former professional basketball player was scammed out of $61,000 by a person who used a model made by artificial intelligence on a dating service.
Gilbert Arenas also joked about the allegation on an episode of his podcast, claiming that he was "the only person that can’t get caught by AI like that."
On Monday (Dec. 8), Barnes denied the rumor was true in an Instagram reel.
"2025 has been a crazy year, man," the former Los Angeles Clippers player said. "When I look back on this year in 10 to 15 years, it's gonna be like, damn. From my personal life being flipped upside down because of me, but at the same time, really starting to take off."
Barnes also went into the downsides of his year, adding that he's dealt with "personal healing and family healing."
"I've sat back and watched the internet lie about me the whole year," he continued. "The whole year ... lies from me being gay, to me talking [someone into an] abortion, to me telling some girl not to do a reality show."
"I get back from Dubai ... I see all of a sudden I'm suing an AI model, or I got played by an AI model," Barnes said, accusing "bottom of the barrel-ass blogs" of fueling the speculation.
"You guys believe I got played by an AI model, and I'm suing them? Where the fuck did you guys get this from?" Barnes asked.
The athlete and podcaster called Arenas someone he's "close with" and said that the former Washington Wizards star apologized to him.
"Y'all can't believe everything you motherfucking hear," Barnes said. "Like, I said, I've been dealing with some real shit while y'all been lying."
Last month, Barnes shared his plans to sue vlogger Tasha K for posting alleged AI-generated audio and video of him cheating on his ex-fiancée, Anansa Sims.
