AI Girl Group Sparks Controversy Over Fabricated Pregnancy Announcement

The digital K-pop style girl group BABYQUEEN, created by a group of female students and launched in September, has become the center of a social media controversy. The group's official account posted a statement from one of its five virtual members, Mity, claiming she was pregnant and would be taking a hiatus from musical activities to focus on her health. The announcement, which included a personal apology to her fellow members and the production team for disrupting upcoming comeback plans, caused significant confusion and backlash among netizens who questioned the logic of a virtual character experiencing pregnancy.

Following the intense public criticism, the creators of the project admitted that the pregnancy narrative was entirely fabricated. They explained that the story was created due to difficulties in managing the members' content, leading to an unintended escalation of the situation. For residents and observers of Thailand's digital entertainment scene, this incident highlights the growing complexity and ethical challenges surrounding the use of AI-generated personas in media. While the creators have apologized, the incident raises questions about the boundaries of storytelling in virtual influencer marketing. It remains to be seen how this controversy will impact the future of the BABYQUEEN project and the public's trust in virtual idol narratives.