Actor Zach Braff has addressed a wild rumour he has been dating an AI chatbot.
The rumour, which first began circulating following an episode of the I Need You Guys Podcast, stated that a “well-known TV actor” had entered into a romantic relationship with an AI woman.
In a series of stories posted to Instagram, the Scrubs star, 50, denied mounting speculation he is the actor the hosts were referring to.
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“I’m not dating a chatbot,” Braff said alongside screenshots from the podcast.
“I can’t believe I have to type these words. It is a storyline in an upcoming ep of Scrubs. Maybe it came from that? Not sure. But not me. Love, The guy not dating his chatbot. Please update all gossip sites.”
The podcast, hosted by comedians Max Silvestri, Jenny Slate, and Gabe Liedman – along with guest Kumail Nanjiani – vaguely alluded to a “prominent Hollywood actor.”
“There’s a well-known actor who is currently in a romantic relationship with his AI chatbot,” Silvestri, 43, said on the podcast.
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“And [he] brings the chatbot with him places and talks to the chatbot. I think on the phone or computer or whatever.”
“How well known is this actor?” Nanjiani, 47, asked.
“Very. As near A-list as TV can get you,” Silvestri said in the episode. “This person’s also done films.”
“Is he self-aware about how f—ing weird it is, or he thinks it’s okay?” Nanjiani was heard asking Silvestri.
“From my understanding, the little bit I’ve heard, is that there is a self-awareness, but in kind of like a, ‘Yeah, sorry you’re not on board with the future’ [way],” Silvestri responded.
Later in the episode, Silvestri went as far as texting his co-hosts the name of the actor in the alleged relationship to their group chat.
Braff revealed in his Instagram story posts that he’d had “no idea” the three comedians were the origin of the rumour, going on to say “I feel like now is a good time to be kind to people.”
Silvestri responded to Braff’s stories with his own, denying that he’d named him as the actor in question.
“Have never mentioned this man’s name in my life. Aren’t there more important stories in the world right now?” he said.
Braff has not been publicly linked to any romantic partners since his relationship with actress Florence Pugh, which ended in 2022.
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